“When the truth is found to be lies…”

As a young man, I thrilled to the sound of Grace Slick belting out that opening line to the song, “Somebody to Love”. Of course, being a hip artist of the ’60’s, it was obvious that she was only voicing the feelings of a jilted lover, which I did not understand at the time. But the song stuck.

Today is September 11, 2022. Patriot Day. It is the 21st anniversary of The Second Day of Infamy, the first being the “sneak” attack by the Japanese Navy on Pearl Harbor, December 07, 1941, which infuriated the American public and opened the door for America to enter WW2 with a vengeance. Like the first, 9/11 also galvanized public opinion to exercise retribution and punishment on those deemed to be responsible for the dastardly deed, and so we dashed off to war without too much thought about the consequences or even if the proper person(s) were being targeted. Iraq has been a disaster zone ever since with Afghanistan closely following in its wake.

“Don’t just sit there, do something.”

“Kill them all. Let God sort them out.”

“What difference does it make?”

“In the long run, we are all dead.” — John Maynard Keynes

I determined early on that the official narrative emanating from the white-washed sepulchre known as Washington, D.C. was a collection of falsehoods designed to do one thing: whip the American public into a froth of heated anger to pave the road to war. It did not matter to the general population who was attacked and destroyed, as long as someone paid the price. Unfortunately for Iraq, it became a convenient scapegoat and was duly dispatched.

“Mission accomplished!” — George W. Bush, after landing on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier to standing applause, May 01, 2003. Not actually a quote, but the slogan was prominently displayed on a banner for the whole world to see.

“We got him.” — Barack Obama, announcing the (supposed) execution of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan after years of concerted effort to track down America’s Most Wanted criminal.

America has never been the same since the events of that day, 21 years ago, which enabled the Federal government and the Deep State to grab a firm grip on the throat of the country, which has been inexorably tightening until it can now be considered a death grip, throttling the very life out of the freedoms and liberties of its citizens.

Today, September 11, 2022, is a day for remembering all the lies we have been told by our supposedly “righteous” leaders, those men and women democratically elected or appointed to “watch out for America’s national interests”. There are a slew of them, too many to recount by too many people to name, but the one who stands out as the most responsible, in my opinion, is that self-proclaimed model of “Christian” charity and love, President George W. Bush.

Of all the presidents I have known (not personally, but those within my lifetime), my most visceral anger is directed at Bush the Younger because, with a straight face, he lied to the country about Iraq and Afghanistan, killed millions of innocent people, devastated our political liberties, and created a monster of gargantuan size, yet somehow convinced multiple millions of gullible American Christians that he was the worthy successor to Lincoln and Washington, both of whom were also cold-blooded killers and tyrants in their own right.

I despise the man and I despise the pervasive mentality among the “christian right” that he deserves to be worshipped as a defender of our faith and freedom. Do you think this is going too far? I have literally seen, with my own eyes, a print of a painting which purports to show the ghosts (spirits?) of both Lincoln and Washington standing beside Bush, their hands on his shoulders, as he stands in an attitude of humble prayer. The symbolism is striking and many members of the conservative, Christian camp eat it up like hyenas lapping up blood after a kill. Even today, I know people who venerate Bush as a demi-god, who bristle at the thought that his name might be impugned, that his word would be called into question.

A copy of the painting described above, “Praying for Peace” by Ron DeCianni can be purchased from a website known as “Christ-centered mall”, signed and numbered at the current low, low price of only $1798.00. You read that right. Christ-centered Mall, which offers Christ-centered art, which idolizes murderous tyrants of American history, all in the name of the production of profit, at great savings to you. Get yours now while they last!

My blood boils.

“Why do they hate us?”, Bush asked, and then proceeded to answer the question with another lie. “It is because we are free.” Yes, those barbaric savages who have known nothing from America except violent force for decades literally hate us because we are free. It is not that we are free and they are enslaved, rather they hate the very concept of freedom, preferring instead to live their lives in a state of extreme slavery and impoverishment–material, emotional, and spiritual. That anyone, especially supposedly Bible-believing Christians, would believe this callous statement simply astounds me, but it shows the depths of vicious, anti-Christian depravity and thought to which we have descended, from which our children and grandchildren are going to have to claw their way out.

When the truth is found to be lies…