Blue Guy in Red Land

I first heard about about former Marine (yes, I understand that "once a marine, always a marine") Josh Rushing on CNN as they interviewed him regarding the controversy of his new job with al-Jazeera as an on-air personality for its new English-language network.  Then today I read this story:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1590885,00.html

The Right in this country would have you believe that they virtually deify all military veterans, but their actions belie this stated belief.  If vets are so revered by the Right, then why has Bush consistently cut veteran benefits and underfunded the Department of Veterans’ Affairs?  People who have fought for our country, many of whom suffer irreparable injuries not only to their bodies, but their psyches, deserve better, but this administration and Congress consistently cuts vets off at the knees (no pun intended).  Then you have countless examples of right wingers who have dodged military service when their time came up.  Examples include my Senator, Saxby "Bad Knee" Chambliss who claimed a bum knee in Vietnam and then won office by running commercials declaring triple amputee and Vietnam Vet Max Cleland to be Osama’s right hand man for not kow-towing to Bush’s demands for the Homeland Security Department.  You also have Dick Cheney, Rummy, and the whole gang of neo-cons running things in the Bush Administration who avoided service in Vietnam for one reason or another.  And they called Clinton a draft dodger!  And let us not forget the bungling of Iraq where troops have been underfunded, understaffed, and overextended.  This abuse has even taken in the National Guard who are treated as just another division of the full time military.  Finally, we have the latest exposure of the grotesque underbelly of the right when it comes to our military…they are threatening a former Marine’s life because of the job he has taken with al-Jazeera.

Josh Rushing was a media spokesman for the Marines during the initial stages of the Iraq war.  Good looking (OK, hot as hell), charismatic, and well spoken, he ended up being featured in an independent film about media relations during the invasion and aftermath which many said was sympathetic to al-Jazeera.  I haven’t seen the film, so I can’t personally comment one way or another.  But it does come apparent that Rushing rethought this war and his reactions to it during his time overseas.  Thus the seeds of his "treason" (according to the Right) were sown and took root.

al-Jazeera wants to expand its reach beyond the Arabic speaking world.  It’s already known for its no-holds-barred coverage that slants heavily toward the Palestinian cause and with a definite anti-Western slant.  So a new English language channel is being launched, which should be interesting.  I would be surprised if any cable company in the US will carry it though, as the pressure from the right would overwhelm any company daring to do so, even on a paid-prescription basis.   

It does not appear that Rushing knows exactly what he’ll be doing as an "on air personality" but I’m sure it will include commentary.  Rushing is not a fire-breathing America hater as the Right would have us believe.  He may be working for a network that doesn’t like our government too much, but I’m guessing he can be counted on to give a thoughtful, independent American voice to often-slanted coverage.  Hopefully, he’ll be more effective than Alan Colmes on Fox, who I think was chosen by Sean Hannity as the "left perspective" for his show because Colmes is a wuss, and an ugly one at that. 

The Right, it seems, will applaud vets who tow the GOP party line only.  The minute that a vet expresses a thought or completes an action of which the Right doesn’t approve, then that vet will be branded an America-hating traitor fit only for death by the hands of someone "righteous".  I’m not sure Rushing was wise taking the job with al-Jazeera, but I defend his right to choose the employment of his choice.  As long as he’s not asked to betray his nation (which I think he would NEVER do), then I don’t see a problem.  It’s up to him if he’s comfortable working for a company whose policy seems to be anti-USA.  It’s not anyone else’s business.  It is no more patriotic to work for Halliburton than for al-Jazeera, despite what Bushies would tell you.

This brings up an interesting point on where the GOP is leading America.  Since 9/11, we have been led down this rosy jingoistic path where "you’re either with us or against us."  Anyone who dares question Bush policy on ANYTHING is automatically labeled as a terrorist sympathizer and an America hating liberal. As someone who is a liberal on most issues, I find that offensive.  The liberals I know love this country every bit as much as the conservatives claim to.  That’s why we’re so ANGRY with what the the GOP is doing to this country.  The best ideals of the USA are being subsumed by this neo-fascist regime which demands total unquestioning loyalty to the GOP line.  That’s not what America is about.  From the far left to the far right, I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t do whatever he/she could to stop a terrorist if it was in his/her power.  Most Americans are just like the ones on Flight 77 that crashed in PA on 9/11 who took down the plane rather than allow the terrorists to turn them into a missile of their choosing.  The right would have you believe that only people who agree with Bush would behave that way.  We are now at a point where a man who decides to take a simple job as an on air personality has to take extra security precautions because of DEATH THREATS by people who claim to "love America".  If Americans don’t do something to check the power of the GOP soon (like in 2006), we will be led down a path that not only leads to a theocracy based on a singular interpretation of the King James Bible, but that jails and/or kills anyone who dares question or fight against such an occurrence. 

We must guard our rights as Americans with vigilance at all times, no matter who is in power.  I’m the first to admit that the left can also get carried away with trampling on people’s rights…but in this day, at this time, the Right holds all the levers of power, and it is the Right that we must fight against…lest the America that we love slip into dustbin of history.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 13th, 2005 at 8:16 am and is filed under Current Affairs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.