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The "Healthsteria" that has gripped America is so very disheartening. With the millions of Americans loosing their homes, or finding themselves underwater with a devalued property, as big banks and mortgage brokerage companies walk away with profits and bonuses. More millions have lost their jobs, as Corporate America lops off large vestiges of their workforce, just to pad the bottom-line, and deliver dividends to the share holders. With this economic nightmare that has sent shockwaves through Wall Street, and continues to unleash a drowning tidal wave on Main Street, just the thought of a Healthcare system that puts the care back into Healthcare, offered a tiny glimmer of hope. Then the nay-Sayers began to chant the Public Option was about to throw Mama from the train in her twilight hours. As I watched the Bill Moyer show featuring Mr. Wendell Potter, the former chief corporate spokesman for Cigna, I wondered how many Americans got the opportunity to view this broadcast. I wanted it to be mandatory viewing at all public forum discussions on Healthcare Reform. I wanted it to be broadcast day and night like one of those less than blockbuster movies that cable TV puts into a continuous loop of air time. I tried to reassure myself and say that the American people are not as ignorant as the Big Insurance industry would believe them to be, that they would see clear the smoke and mirrors, that they would indeed pay attention to the man behind the curtain. I tried to convince myself that they would see, as Mr. Potter’s presentation so clearly showed, who was pulling the purse strings, and speaking through these ventriloquist dummies, more commonly known as conservative politicians, and those who now have let the Blue Dogs out. But as the weeks have passed, and the heckling calls failed to die down, what saddened me so is that there are many poor Americans who have been duped by all the fear mongering and have brandished the Anti Health Reform regalia, to the chant of the party line! How I know with all my heart that so many of the well intended Anti-Health Reformists could benefit personally, if not have a dear loved one benefit, from caring health system. Yet, I am reminded that not so many generations ago hysteria swept many as Orson Wells read the War of the World, over the air waves. Should I be surprised by the waves of panic that now sweep many over this modern day War of the Words. How I just wish there could be a young child, who would yell it out, to all of the highly intellectual conservative thinkers and their adherents, that the cloth of the argument that now cloaks the Insurance Empire as being the best healthcare delivery system in the world, that shrouds all those who rally to this rant, is in reality devoid of any substance at all, and will leave all of America naked and openly exposed to the status quo that keeps rewarding big business, as they continue to give the small guy (or the little boy) if you will, the business!!!

I remember hearing the term "hadji" as a kid, watching the cartoon "Johnny Quest." (It was the name of the Indian, I think, character on the show). As for the reasons for the cruel conduct of some U.S. soldiers in Iraq, I have two comments: First, many of these servicemen wanted war, and many pro-Iraq war Americans cheer the idea of a war against Muslims, both to "pay back" the Islamic world for 9/11, and to assert American supremacy in the world after years of supposed humiliation after Vietnam and the Iranian hostage crisis. So, why do so many soldiers and civilians complain about conditions in Iraq? It seems people want war just so long as the U.S. enjoys an easy victory with few American casualities and spectacular successes. If the native people fight back, then the situation becomes intolerable. Of course, racism plays a role, as it has done in most of America's wars. This is the deeper danger of racism. Conservatives grow tired of hearing about racism, but this is exactly what happens when people are ridiculed and demonized simply because of their religion, color, or ancestry. TV shows like "South Park" and "Family Guy" are making ethnic and racial humor popular and acceptable among younger people. Not coincidentally, many of these soldiers grew up on movies and television programs that celebrate "politically incorrect" (or more accurately, racist) comedy. For a soldier or cop who was raised by racist parents and educated by racist friends and neighbors, it's only a short leap from making sick jokes about Iraqis and Arabs (or Jews or blacks or Mexicans...) and then murdering someone when he's drunk or afraid. Second, I don't understand why more conservatives won't condemn conduct like this. At one time, patriotism meant more than waving the flag. It entailed a certain values system. While never perfect, patriotism, and service in the military, officially demanded that Americans proved the nobility and honor of democracy and freedom by conducting themselves at a higher level of morals. Ironically, now that racial and sex discrimination is against the law, Americans seem to be abandoning all commitment to a higher value system. Blame it on the excesses '60s, if you want, or on Reagan's "greed decade," or whatever, but today's patriotism is a sham. Just shout "U.S.A! U.S.A!" and promise to vote Republican, and scream against Obama, and you're a real patriot. At this point, American patriotism doesn't seem all that different than the fanaticism that drives most of the insurgents and militants in Iraq and elsewhere. When an army invades a country, at least some of the population will resist. If you can't deal with that, don't join the military. If you can't be angry without murdering someone, or writing poetry about it, then you don't reflect American national values- you need hospitalization.