Take Heed Americans: Some Words By Bin Laden Should Not Be Ignored

Hell Yes now isnt that the truth

by Linda Milazzo
http://www.opednews.com

The Bush administration and American media gave little credence to most of the statements by Osama Bin Laden on his most recent audio-tape, which aired April 23rd on Al-Jazeera. But there is one part of the tape that should not be ignored. In fact, it could rightfully be perceived as the presumptive conclusion of millions, if not billions of people throughout the world.

When speaking of America's war on Iraq, Bin Laden states on the tape, "I say that this war is the joint responsibility of the people and the governments. While the war continues, the people renew their allegiance to their rulers and politicians and continue to send their sons to our countries to fight us."

Now, why is this statement so incredulous that the Bush administration and American media paid it so little mind? From the perspective of much of the world, it is the truth, after all.

In the "world's greatest super-power democracy," which prides itself on democratic elections and democratically elected leaders, why is the parallel between the actions of the government and the support of the people so disparate an idea? One would presume that people who freely elect their leaders are to a fair extent culpable for the actions their leaders take.

Of course, to savvy Americans who understand the pitfalls and inequities of the American election system, there is great doubt about whether elected leaders are duly 'elected' at all. But to the rest of the world, busy battling their own social and political woes, America's disenfranchisement of voters, questionable tabulations and voting machine irregularities are beyond the pale of their already vexed considerations. They, along with millions of America's own uninformed, truly believe that American elections produce leaders who are honorably selected and dutifully adorned.

Undeniably, many outside America are fully aware of the dissension amongst its voters, and understand that not all Americans elected George W. Bush. Nonetheless, they still have the right to blame the rest of us for enabling his election. In fact, most of us blame the rest of us for enabling it, too.

So, why then should the American government and the American media continue to undermine Bin Laden's account that Americans are complicit in the acts of their democratically elected leaders? Weren't the German people held accountable decades later for the barbarous acts of their own heinous leader? The Germans who meandered as well as the Germans who served? Just as Iranians who may defend Iran will be blamed for the words and deeds of Ahmadinejad, and Iraqis who defend Iraq are branded as supporters of Saddam Hussein?

Why should the world view Americans differently for having elected George W. Bush? When Bush attacks Iraq, it's Americans who do the attacking. The rest of the world doesn't pour through our phone books attempting to separate the good from the bad.

Despite the fact that our peace marches are filmed. That our dissenting articles are read. That our "Fahrenheit 9/11"s are seen, and our Dixie Chicks are heard. Despite the fact that angelic Marla Ruzicka died for an act of love. Despite how many medical supplies CodePink delivered to the suffering of Fallujah. Despite the numbers of our deceived young protectors who decry the battles they are forced to fight. Despite how much money we spend, how many letters we write, how many phone calls we make, and meetings we attend, to much of the world, we will still be the faces and actions of George W. Bush.

We carry the blame for his rise and we carry the blame for his rule.

It is a despicable rock we sit under. And it will only be lifted when George Bush is removed. George W. Bush is the weight that is sinking America. And America can only be strengthened when his flock and his rock are removed.

The Germans didn't remove their own leader. We did it for them. Shouldn't we do the same for ourselves? Impeachment is our only true recourse, lest we suffer the fate of the Germans, begging lifelong forgiveness for the havoc we wrought on the world.

Linda Milazzo is a Los Angeles based writer, educator and activist. Her writing has appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines and domestic and international journals.