An Xmas Letter

(December, 2004)

 

Dear Friends and Family,

 

The holiday season is upon us, but there is little reason to celebrate. In the last four years, we've seen our government follow a decidedly un-Christian course in the name of Christianity, abandon democratic principles and become increasingly totalitarian in the name of Democracy, and deprive its citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed rights, un-American behavior by anyone's standards, in the name of America. Our once legitimate government has been overthrown by insidious, illegal means, and a large segment of the American population is too ignorant to realize it. Many Republicans are aware but believe it is more important to win than to abide by democratic principles. Still other Americans are either disenchanted with the political system or have yielded to apathy. Corporations control our voting behavior (90% of the candidates who spend the most money win), and now their manipulatable electronic voting machines, with no paper trail, are tallying the votes, not as they are cast, but in accordance with the whims of the right-wing manipulators. American government no longer protects the rights of American citizens, and having lost sight of basic moral principles, it does not respect the life, liberty and property of people who live in other sovereign nations. It has even come to believe that it is above international law and feels there is no need to abide by international treaties. Although professing a Christian basis, it defies Christian teachings, rationalizing the slaughter of over 100,000 innocent civilians, the comprehensive destruction of entire cities and the torture of prisoners in an illegal war that was originally justified by lies. Although no one now questions this last conclusion, many Americans still support the Bungler who is nominally responsible.

Is there no shame? Anyone who once held up his or her head and said with pride "I am a Republican," can no longer do so. It is now a disgrace for anyone in our country to admit to belonging to the Republican Party. They thereby confess to crime by association. The disenfranchisement of black citizens by Jeb Bush in Florida in two presidential elections, and similar dirty tricks, now common Republican practices in at least a dozen other states, has truly earned the Republican Party the designation "The American Nazi Party". And because it is now apparent that a significant fraction of Americans support Bush, it is shameful to be an American. During the Macarthy era, Republicans said: "The only good commie is a dead commie"; today's relevant statement is applicable to Republicans: "The only good Nazi is a dead Nazi".

If Republicans cannot see the folly of their deeds, others can. Dozens of books by scientists, social scientists, environmentalists, economists, journalists, diplomats, and even military officials have pointed out the repeated failings, errors and lies of Bush and his illegal administration. And there are almost no books that have a good word to say about them! Ninety percent of Europeans disapprove of their actions and were dismayed by the outcome of the 2004 election. In all other parts of the world, Bush, and now by apparent association, all Americans, fare no better. For example, we have made one billion Muslims hate us. Our prestige, respect and influence abroad have been irreparably damaged. Why can't more Americans recognize what all of the rest of the world knows? Can a major fraction of Americans really be in denial?

The Republicans who are in power do not understand or respect scientific knowledge; they do not comprehend the need for environmental protection; they do not see that almost all of the world's truly important problems (global warming, species extinction, ozone depletion, deforestation, pollution, etc.) can be attributed to our excessive human population. They oppose birth control, the one solution that can spare the human race of immense suffering. They are probably not aware that Americans are the most wasteful resource consumers on the planet, and that this waste contributes significantly to our global problems. They do not acknowledge that our tremendous wealth could and should be used to help solve the world's problems rather than to exacerbate them. Their primary goals are based on short-term greed, and their philosophy is based on irrational mystical beliefs. They are spending our tax dollars for purposes of destruction rather than benefit. They don't have the foresight to realize that their actions are creating immense problems for future generations including their own offspring. They are not competent to be our leaders.

Many Americans are fooled by this man who seems to know how to smile and lie blatantly without flinching. Ignorant citizens who don't take the time to research the important issues don't recognize the evil he is promulgating. In a democratic society, it is irresponsible to assume the right to vote while remaining ignorant. Moreover, supporting illegal activities makes one an accomplice to the crime, and ignorance of the law is no excuse. Creating unjust laws by a criminal regime does not and never will legalize their actions.

If these immoral, ignorant, irrational Americans feel no shame, then rationalists who exercise their powers of reason certainly do. We do not accept archaic and irrelevant doctrines without evaluation. We do not accept the mystically derived but consistently fallacious claims of our illegal president. We recognize the need for international law and order. We believe in abiding by democratic principles. We know that the crimes of corruption that have been foisted upon us will never be justifiable. We feel tremendous anger at the atrocities that have been committed in the name of our country; we feel disgust for the attitudes and behavior of many Americans, some of whom we know personally. How could America, our wonderful country, have come to stoop so low?

It is on this dismal note that we ask you to use the holiday season to ponder the issues, to think deeply about the past four years, to familiarize yourselves with the facts. Acknowledge the need for international cooperation. Reestablish honorable principles. And work to restore democracy in America. You owe it to yourselves, your country, and the world. Only in so doing can America regain our lost dignity.

 

Peacefully,

Milton and Jeanne Saier