Just what we need, more sabre rattling. Recently Snowden informed
the world about a massive, undercover spy program the US was conducting
all over the world. Many of our European allies are furious over the
revelation but we dismissed it stating that everyone does it so it is
okay. Of course, it is no surprise that Putin and other world leaders
would offer Snowden protection. The rest of the world sees him as a
hero. I am sure we would do the same thing for a Russian whistle-blower
if he sought protection in the US.
Many people don't realize
that Snowden is the Paul Revere or Thomas Jefferson of our time. When
history books are written, his name will be up there as a liberator of
his country from the neo cons. So now, Snowden is currently seeking
asylum from several countries, including Ecuador.
Sen. Chuck Schumer with his Cold War and mobster mentality said this about Ecuador if it gives Snowden political asylum;
"We
should cut off the foreign aid we have with them, it's about 10
million. If Ecuador agrees to Edward Snowden’s request for asylum,
there will be serious consequences. Their economy will pay a very big
price. We will end all foreign aid, repeal trade agreements. Whatever
political benefit the leader of Ecuador thinks he will get by granting
Mr. Snowden asylum, it will be far outweighed by the damage done to
Ecuador’s economy.”
"Damage?" Did he say "Damage?" Will we intentionally damage another country's economy for want of one man?
And,
did he say ten million? It is more like billions. These trade
preferences include items like fruits, coffee, oil, shrimp, gold,
vegetables and flowers. Ecuador is the world's largest exporter of
bananas to the US ($936.5 million in 2002) and a major exporter of
shrimp ($251 million in 2002). Exports of non-traditional products such
as flowers ($291 million in 2002) and canned fish ($333 million in
2002). If my math is correct, like, you know, that comes out to about
10 million . . . I guess. I'll take your word Senator Schumer.
Now,
FIRST, if we were to cut off ties with Ecuador, what will that do to
our own economy when we have to buy our imports from other countries if
at all? Where will we get those export items from and at what
additional cost to us? Is Snowden's freedom worth doubling the cost for
some items to US citizens?
Secondly, Ecuador employs at least
50,000 people on about 550 farms across their country and is indirectly
responsible for another 110,000 jobs. Is it fair to to the children,
families and innocent workers of that country to punish them because of
our own government's ineptitude? It is always easy to blame the
foreign power because the last thing we want to do is admit that the
Snowden incident happened because of our secret spy policies and failure
to contain them.
Frankly, I think Senator Chuck Schumer has
done far more harm to this country than Edward Snowden ever did. In
fact, I think Snowden has done the country a great service. Who does
Schumer think he is, a 1950 mobster? Our own senate is a greater enemy
of the Constitution.
Schumer went on to say, “The U.S. should
move forward with suspending the thousands of visas we issue to their
businesses each year, and let trade preferences expire should they
decide to grant Snowden asylum."
Is Schumer willing to mete out
his version of justice and ruin thousands of lives to satisfy the letter
of the law without considering the damage that will take place both
here, there and to countless individuals?
Schumer and his kind
dream of preserving Imperial America by endless war and intervention in
every conflict. They think this planet is the property of the US and
that other nations cannot reside here unless they meet our lease terms.
Do they really want us to be in war with every country? Are they
really willing to impose economic sanctions which can deny food,
medicine and housing to hundreds of thousands of innocent people? Are
they willing to punish an entire nation, and ours, over this incident?
Instead of inflicting harm or spewing venom and threats, why don't we
just stoop to bribery to get Snowden back? Money talks. Everyone will
think they win.
In this predominately Christian country, is the
church willing to allow such economic sanctions which could starve and
hurt thousands of innocent people? What will be the church's response
and demand to all this be? Is the church a monument or a movement?
Will it sacrifice everything to protect the poor and those persecuted by
governments, even if it is their own? I'm sure its response will be
to pray for them.
You know, Jesus was not the Milquetoast guy
our church makes him out to be. He was a passive aggressive who did not
stand down when facing governments, politicians, friends or even his
own church. Those parables about carrying a soldier's cloak for an
extra mile and turning the other cheek are not what we think they are
about. Research them. You will be surprised to realize how tough Jesus
really was. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for
good people to do nothing. I am not discounting the power of prayer
but, in many of our churches today, prayer is the least thing they can
do for someone while still getting to grandstand like they are actually
doing something.
Back to Schumer, one of the good people. In
2009 on a US Airways flight from NY to DC, December 13, during the take
off, Senator Charles Schumer was repeatedly asked by a flight attendant
to turn off his cell phone. Later, Schumer called the flight attendant a
"bitch." He made the comment to fellow New York Senator Kirsten
Gillibrand, who was seated next to him, and was overheard by a House
aide who was also on the plane. Schumer, after being outed to the press
for his behavior issued an apology (because he got caught). He said it
was an "off-the-cuff comment". I guess that makes hate speech okay if
it is off-the-cuff. Just ask Paula Deen. According to the aide who
overheard Mr. Schumer, the phone rang again moments after the attendant
had told Mr. Schumer to shut it off. But, everybody does it so it must
be okay.
Schumer's comments about damaging Ecuador, their people
and their economy (and eventually ours) really perturbed me. He is a
bully, no better and no less than a war criminal, willing to hurt other
people with impunity so that our government can save face and get what
they want. And, if they don't get what they want, like a spoiled
playground brat, they will take their ball and go home, resolving
nothing. Nobody wins.
Arrogant, ignorant and corrupt career politicians must go! We need term limits!
