Arrogance isn't a becoming trait in American diplomacy

One day the people from whom you have taken money will turn against you. They will realize what is happening and make you shake with fear. Then they will take everything you have. Because you have stolen from many nations, those who are left will take much from you. This is because you have killed many people, destroying countries and cities and everyone in them. How terrible it will be for the nation that becomes rich by doing wrong, thinking that they will live in a safe place and escape harm. Because you have made plans to destroy many people, you have made your own houses ashamed of you. Because of it, you will lose your lives. The stones of the wall will cry out against you, and the boards that support the roof will agree that you are wrong.

Habakkuk 2:7-11 (New Century Version)

If we don't take off our knapsack of arrogance I fear that we may be in the midst of an implosion of biblical proportions, hence my quoting from the book of Habakkuk, I believe that this speaks to America in the here and now...

Admittedly, I have been in a tailspin of sorts as of late. Things at the office have been hectic to say the least... But, the news events of the past couple of weeks have been harrowing to say the least. The saber rattling between the United States and Russia reeks of drama surrounding the two countries and the Cold War, but given the importance of Paris Hilton going to jail for her umpteenth infraction many people probably haven't noticed (and getting out after a couple of days). The immigration bill has fallen on it proverbial face in Senate with many of its initial supporters running from it as if it was a vial of drug resistant tuberculosis. The empirical evidence detailing that the military surge in Iraq is not having its desired effect, with all that is going on in Iraq we probably haven't caught wind of the comments of Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas who stated that Palestinians were "on the verge of civil war."

It just goes on and on... I need to take a seat because my head is spinning. In short, what we have here is a fundamental problem with listening without imposing. I agree that we cannot reason with terrorists, but why is it unfeasible to consider that maybe some of our policies are powering their fundamentalism and "terrorist" acts? Many politicians and especially this current administration play this silly game of painting a complex issue as "good guys versus the bad guys" when it is clearly more than that.

I am neither, Democrat or Republican, largely because of my belief that labels are confining. In looking at the Presidential debates earlier this week, I noticed a yet another layer of labels. Front runners and second tier candidates, this gives the impression that the "front runners" are the only candidates running despite the fact that the records of the "second tier candidates" are far more consistent than the front runners.

Why should we buy into the "Jedi mind trick" that the second tier candidates are "long shots" rather than being viable contenders for the post of leader of the free world? Make up your own mind... Do some research... We can change the direction of our country before we reach the point of no return...