2016 U.S. Presidential Election Disgrace!
A wise sage once said: “the higher the politician climbs the tree of power, the more you see his/her ass.”
No matter who will be elected/selected U.S. President on Nov. 8, it needs to be said that the 2016 U.S. Presidential election is an unprecedented national disgrace. The disgrace has been well publicized, though more is likely to come out, both before and after the election so I will not attempt to repeat the litany of disgraceful horrors.
The question I want to ask is how will this election serve the interests of justice, peace and saving civilization from total destruction from nuclear war and/or climate disaster? This question has not been asked in the presidential debates nor discussed as far as I know by any of the major candidates and the media networks. This fact adds to the national disgrace.
In his farewell address to the nation in 1961, former U.S. President and Five Star Army General, Dwight David Eisenhower, warned of the influence and danger, and threat to liberty, of the growing “MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.” That dire warning was over 50 years ago. Since that time the U.S. Military Industrial Complex (MIC) has grown enormously into an all encompassing National Security/Surveillance state. Today, along with its influence, danger and threat to liberty, there are revolving, well greased doors between government and war corporations, Wall St. Banks, lobbyists., etc. Big, big money is involved. Billions in Profit and multi-million dollar salaries with bonuses, is the name of the game. War making has become very profitable for some. The poor always pay the ultimate price of these wars.
Both in the U.S. and abroad there is a growing divide, between rich and poor. Wars for resources are being waged disguised as humanitarian wars and/or against ever newly created enemies. MIC say “scare the hell out of people and keep the war machine money and profits flowing.”
This arrogance of power must end. What’s most important today is the building of grassroots non-violent movements for justice, peace and protecting and respecting our sacred earth (from Standing Rock to Mauna Kea and Pohakuloa) and all its creatures – people, plants, and animals. We are all related and dependent upon one another. So regardless of who ends up as president, our important work is to demand justice, at home and abroad, end all the wars, achieve global nuclear disarmament, and redirect the vast resources of the military industrial complex to building a livable/sustainable planet for present and future generations. This change won’t come from politicians high up in the tree of power. It’s up to us on the ground to demand it!
Power to the Peaceful!
- Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties.
4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760 Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org
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Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Nov. 4, 2016 – 789th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
