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[Sep. 3rd, 2005|12:24 pm] |
In the often and rightly quoted words of Bill Clinton, "There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America." We see now how individuals and groups around the country are acting to help their fellow citizens in Louisiana, Mississippi and other devastated places near the Gulf of Mexico in any way they can. They refuse to stand idly by and wait for President Bush and his morally-bankrupt, pirate administration to respond in an appropriately urgent and compassionate manner to the escalating agony and desperation of our fellow citizens. This agony and desperation was caused in large part by a near complete absence of adequate federal government funding, preparedness, and leadership. We the people will continue to help Americans and non-Americans alike, with or without the participation or approval of George W. Bush and his Neo-Conservative cohorts.
While it is true that what is most important right now is to rescue, feed, house, and in any way possible care for those immediately affected by the disaster, it is equally true that in the long run those directly responsible for aggravating the tragic situation must be held accountable. The mounting evidence of the Bush administration's criminal mismanagement of the nation, as well as its consistently arrogant disregard for our planet's people and natural environments must be confronted immediately. Those who voted for Bush last year, or who have continually supported his outlaw administration in its destructively dishonest conduct, including not only extremist conservatives but also politically-calculating democrats, need not hang their heads or avert their eyes now. What they can and ought to do is join the increasing numbers of Americans who are demanding that presidential impeachment proceedings be initiated as soon as possible. Members of the Bush Administration responsible for the blatant lies and self-serving manipulations that have fanned the flames of disaster from Iraq to New Orleans must be prosecuted as our laws require. We must insist on this. Furthermore, we must not allow these disgracefully unpatriotic public servants to be pardoned by any future president as Gerald Ford did for Richard Nixon. Please call or write your government representatives and help get the scoundrels out of government and in prison where they belong. Do not allow the subject to be changed, do not be distracted. The time to act is now. Take back your country.
- Viggo Mortensen, 1 Sept., 2005.
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Edit: It should come as no suprise to me by now that everyone loves Viggo... |
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See, that was the best way for me to wake up this morning. I think that Viggo is the sexiest man alive, and not only does he have the looks, but he has the brains as well. He owns his own publishing company, he write poetry, he acts, he paints, he is a renaissance man. Thanks for posting that. To know that he also is not a Bush fan makes me tingly inside. :)
Unfortunately, the political process in the US is such that we, the people, do not have the power to make sure that they don't get pardoned. Considering that the US doesn't have instant run-off voting, maximally secure voting process, Swiss-style referendum, or even proportional representation, I don't consider it to be very democratic at all, which is why it's a sad joke when US "leaders" preach about spreading "freedom and democracy" across the world.
All too true: The basic, institutional problems with U.S. "democracy" that you have described--as well as the system of private campaign financing--have all conspired to give us a "rent-a-government" more responsive to the multinationals than to voters. Bush's imperium is simply the most flagrant example of this that we've seen.
One hopes that the cumulative weight of the disasters this government has led us into during the past few years might be enough to bring more in the U.S. around to Viggo's point of view.
Of course, it's extremely unlikely to play out via the kind of impeachment campaign he describes: at minimum, the U.S. public has to turn against the president's political party at the polls in a massive way, because because God knows the Republican leadership would rather die than admit that their brainless wonder is wrong about anything. Even then, though, the county needs a broad-based movement demanding basic changes to democratize the system. Again, this will require many more people to get to the point of frustration Viggo's at--and beyond it, really.
That is awesome. Thank you.
Incidentally, where did you find this?
Thanks. Mind if I link it in my blog as well? (I'll be sure to tell everyone I found it on your lovely journal.)
Done and done. You get extra special credit, too.
Interesting juxtaposition: I'm reading my flist and watching the Return of the King. I reached this choice post just as Elrond presented Aragorn with the sword of the Kings of Gondor.
Be-oo-tiful.
Hahahaha! Viggo for president. Get rid of that "Born American" thing they're going to waive for Arnie. :)
I didn't know Viggo was born in America — isn't he Danish?
Sorry, I was making no sense - "get rid of that 'You have to have been born an american' thing they were going to waive for Arnie anyway."
Yes, think he's Danish.
*sigh* my Viggo. Isn't he a star. Shame I still haven't told him that I'm going to marry him.
On a more serious note: he did protest a lot against Bush right from the start. Even during the LOTR promotion he wasn't "scared" to speak his mind. My hero *dribble* (I might actually have to swap back again and shamelessly dump Christopher Eccleston ;)
Erm...did I say "serious".
Yay Viggo.
Marysia gave me another copy of his CD, so you can keep the other one if you find it. It has hobbit songs on! | |
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