Is there collective guilt when there isn't more you could have done to prevent it.
I joined in a few anti war protests. I told everyone I could talk to that there were no WMD's. That Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
I am saddened that the killing still goes on but it isn't me who can stop it.

what's going on.

There is tragedy all over the world. Should we acknowledge it all everyday?
Here is what you can do in a Buddhist sort of way. First work on yourself so that you are not causing harm to anyone. Secondly in a very meaningful way wish happiness, safety, health and peace to yourself and every other being.
Sounds silly to some but not to all.

this is a political site however, and I think it's appropriate to write about it. I think it's a very small thing to do, but recognizing

btw, I am a Buddhist. I've been one for quite a long time. I took both my Refuge and Bodhisattva vows at Karme Choling, near where I live, under Sakyong Rinpoche.

I'd love to do another month long Dathun which is an amazing thing. I have done one is some time.

I was a soldier in Vietnam. I talked to a lot of others there and we felt that we could show the world the futility of war by using our experience but no body wanted to listen to us.
It seems to me each generation goes through the same process of learning about war and despising it but the next generation won't listen. On and on we go.

and the proclivity for conflict seems to be a hard drive piece of our collective makeup- by and large.

Syria too. The Ukraine is getting a lot of my attention, and Thailand some as well. The South Sudan continues to be an area of interest, and events in Russia far away from the Olympics in Sochi demand some of my time to boot.

I don't think all DUers are as myopic as you seem to be suggesting Cali. Maybe I'm just feeling optimistic today, I don't know.

I want the Bush administration held accountable.

I want the Obama administration held accountable for not prosecuting the Bush administration and continuing his illegal policies.

I want the military brass to be held accountable.

I want the war profiteers to be held accountable.

I want the rule of law to be followed.

I am tired of the two tiered justice system.

This US is a lawless rogue nation and I am sick of it.

They spread death and destruction all over the globe.

George Bush should be tried for this..

Are you bored, just trying to stir shit or are you out to smear liberals and progressives?

don't seem to resonate and I think they should. I don't think it's just history. I don't think it should simply vanish down the memory hole.

How is what I wrote flamebait? Not that I expect you'll be able to make any sort of cogent argument that it is.

and I sure as shit don't smear progressives, my dear friend.

The point could be made without the smear on liberals, but that wouldn't serve your purpose here. Would it?

I'm hardly making it up that ops about Iraq and Afghanistan sink more often than not.

I post about substantive matters on DU.

Don't like it? Fine with me.

"I post about substantive matters on DU..."

Containing melodramatic allegations and implications of slight regard and apathy based off a wonderful use of post-hoc-ergo-prompter-hoc.

But sure... I imagine many people (and most school children) maintain a pretense of cleverness to allege what others do or do not care about, and then pretend their guess is merely an observation-- regardless of whether one "likes" it or not.

Substantive indeed!

And that was my goal.

Don't like it? I can't say that troubles me over much, Waste.

I once posted an article about the atrocities being committed against women
in some middle east countries on one of the feminist sites here at DU. The silence was deafening.
Can't figure it out.

I saw this in 2 other threads today--- sorry

Seriously?

that's been not only my experience but my observation.

that threads about Iraq tend to simply sink swiftly. Yes, I'd say a paucity of replies reflects a lack of interest. What would YOU attribute it to?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101684105

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101683893

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11333079

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11333148

that your posts don't get as many responses due to the fact that most of DU has put you on ignore?

long ago we learned how powerless we were as citizens in a MIC world.

I grieve now and think I understand what you are saying...I often read these pieces, but what to comment? What to say? It almost enables the feeling of more war-weary victimhood...victims of our incapacity to hold our own murderous government accountable and change the policy. It is only by the Grace of God/dess that we don't live in the Path of the US March to Empire.

We've been murdering "other" people since the Civil War...after brother killed brother here...at least 120 foreign "incursions"...what a nice word.

Peace.

We have a special responsibility for what is happening in Iraq, but Americans will largely think "That's the Middle East for you" or "That's Africa for you". "What can you do? They are always killing each other."

Of course the French and Germans used to always be killing each other, too. They don't anymore. The past does not always dictate the future.

A similar death toll in the US create a shock wave.

I think that news such as this deserves attention and discussion. Thanks for bringing up the horrible story out of the Central African Republic. That is a nightmare of a story.

Thanks Rumsfeld- you fugging war criminals

I'm guessing nearly everyone here opposed the Iraq War. It was a tragedy and plays out on a daily basis in stories like this. However, there are daily tragedies now in every corner of the world. Hell, there were 38 people who probably were just murdered on the east coast of the United States alone (people you won't ever read about on DU).

It sucks. We haven't forgotten. But you can't focus entirely on every tragedy. If we did, we'd get nothing done. It would be a constant mourning process - from the U.S. to Syria to Afghanistan to Iraq and on down into Africa, South America and over into Russia and China.

We broke it.

But sometimes life gets in the way of what is happening a world away. I don't think we'll ever 'forget' Iraq, tho. It'll be a template, much like Vietnam, that is used over and over again to speak against war.

She does NOT deserve a single vote from conscientious Democrats.
Call me single issue. You roll over on this abomination, anything else you are
concerned with, you best be on the wrong side of justice if you want your way
from her.

I didn't vote for Kerry in the primary and I didn't and won't vote for Hillary in the primary either. Of course, her voting for the IWR is hardly the only reason I didn't and can't ever support her.

in India and China. Once they have everyone tied up working might be some crumbs headed our way!
think three dimensionally for goodness sake!
It's a small world, after all... it's a small world...

Not as many people feel compelled to post "That's bad and someone should do something about it". You created a controversy here by calling out DUers for not caring about bombing victims in Iraq. You could have had a similar effect if you blamed the president for the current state of Iraq.

and I didn't say that DUers didn't care. I said that DUers aren't interested in news out of Iraq. Sure, it's a generalization but it's true and I posted links to provide evidence to support my contention.

and managed the withdrawal of troops. If someone were so inclined, I'm sure they could find reasons to lay at least some of the blame for the current state of Iraq on President Obama.

Men looking at women, people using words to communicate, and of course Mia Farrow's personal vendetta against Woody Allen.

On the other hand, no one here is defending the Iraq invasion so there's nothing to argue about.