Ringer for Osama bin Laden?

So, I'm doing my best to make it through my life as a husband, student, brother, son, uncle and worker. I don't agree with probably 95% of what the Bush Administration is doing, but it doesn't mean that I'm some crazy rebel terrorist who's going to try to take America down.

I believe in Peace and "The Other Way." There is always ANOTHER WAY to any seemingly dead end situation. No matter what you believe, there are always "cards" (as my History Professor likes to say--you know who you are) that you can add to or take out of your pile.

In that sense, we are all always growing, learning and becoming more and more open to what's out there...or are we?

At work last night, I was doing my best to get the photo orders done on time and make sure the lab looked straight. I very often look up to make sure no one is left standing around waiting to be helped. I noticed this one seemingly happy older gentleman staring my way.

"Could I help you, sir?," I offered.

Still smiling, he said, "You look like a million bucks!"

Thinking he meant our photo lab, I replied, "Well, thank you, sir. We appreciate it!"

He continued, "...You look like a ringer for Osama bin Laden with your beard 'n your skin 'n all..."

"Thank you, I suppose." was my reply. How do you respond to something like that?

I turned my head and made sure that he couldn't see my face, because I felt a great bit of anger rush over me...

...anger because I was compared to someone I know that everyone hates (with good reason).
...anger because that man had no regard for how that would make someone else feel.
...anger because I know his mind will never try to understand that Osama and his Al Qaeda associates do not represent Islam in its true sense.
...anger because I knew there was nothing I could do or can do.

I am part of what I believe to be the silent majority. The minority of this country (Oligarchy might be the word you're looking for) have gained control of "America" and are giving Americans new faces throughout the world. Apparently, in some small minds, my face is not one of them.

Bringing an end to American fueled war in Iraq

The War in Iraq has long been exploited by the Bush Administration. Despite a majority of voices (or at least opinions), the American-sponsored violence in the area continues.

This war is not even the war that President Bush promised the American people and, more importantly, the surviving family members of the 9/11 victims. Bush sent troops into Afghanistan to pursue Osama Bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda leaders for their part in the deaths of many Americans and people of many other nations who died not just in 9/11 but in the bombing of the U.S. embassies in Africa and the U.S.S. Cole in the late nineties. Bush and his team have let Osama slip through by giving him many head starts and by clumsily moving through Afghanistan and diverting many resources to Iraq.

There must be an OVERWHELMING NATIONAL CALL for the END OF THE WAR IN IRAQ! I propose that those who represent the religious, educational, military and other communities who oppose the ongoing war in Iraq organize a common day to ring the bells of the respective institutions to call for the end of the Iraq War.

Each ring should represent each American death in Iraq, as well as possibly ringing the tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi lives that have been lost in the Bush War. It will take several hours to ring the numbers, and some organizations might want to read the names of the dead. Either way, the government needs to take notice of the reality of the negative impact that this war has on EVERYONE! The longer the series of rings or reading of names the more effective!!! Obviously, a shorter list of names and series of rings would be better for the notion of saving the lives of our brave women and men, as well as the innocent local lives of Iraq.

There is so much silent opposition to this war. I say that we all stand up and organize days periodically to ring the bells of this nation's institutions to remind George W. Bush and all who can make a difference of the deaths that have resulted from this self-serving military blunder! These bells should especially ring in Washington, DC to DROWN OUT ANY OTHER PROPOSITIONS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION UNTIL THEY REALIZE THAT IT'S TIME TO STEP UP TO THE REALITY, COME CLEAN and FIX IT!!!

There are enough of us to do this! Spread the word, network...we can get it done. Even if we start small. Only a handful of voices stood up against the Institution of Slavery at first and we see what happened there. Brave women kept at the government until they won the right to vote. We still have a long way to go with so many things. Think about what you can do today to work to end this war and work toward a harmonious humanity in the months and years to come!