Passing Thoughts on Some “D” Topics

Death - Portal to the answer of a fundamental human question.

Defense - In competitions such as law trials and some sporting events, it may be somewhat easy to distinguish the line between defense and offense. But in many other areas of life the line is blurred. In the national security area, George W. Bush, obliterated the line with his misrepresented pre-emptive invasion of Iraq.

Democracy - An act of faith in the ability of many misinformed and uninformed voters to participate in electing worthwhile representatives, aided by large numbers of potential voters who do not participate. My step-father never registered to vote and my mother rightly told him he therefore had no right to complain about the actions of those elected. When voters realize they were misinformed or uninformed about the person they elected, as many have now done regarding Bush, they should resolve to be better informed for the next election or to be a non-participant.

Democrats - In the US, the political party with values and goals which should legitimately appeal to the vast majority of voters, but which continues to struggle to overcome the shameful, but effective, tactics employed by those who have taken over the Republican party and are using it for purposes different from what they are telling the voters.

Demonstrations - Democracy in the streets. When extensive, sincere, diverse and peaceful, they can have a powerful effect on government, especially when most of the demonstrators are voters.
Demonstrations which include many non-voters, such as the marches for black voting rights and the current immigration marches, must work indirectly by influencing the attitude of voters who are not demonstrating. The demonstrations against the WTO in Seattle a few years ago were sincere and diverse and included mostly voters, but they were marred by the actions of a few anarchists and the over reactions of the Seattle Police. The WTO meetings were part of a quasi-secret program of multi-national corporations to use governments as vehicles to facilitate global profiteering, and as such were a particularly difficult target for demonstrators.

Development - Method by which those that have purport to share with those that don’t. Those that have almost always end up getting more, while those that don’t have often get burned. A cynic might say this proves it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Dignitary - A person invited to share the stage with a candidate running for election.

Dignity - A worthy character trait which should prevent a dignitary from sharing the stage with an unworthy electoral candidate.

Diplomacy - The art of seeking consensus, by means other than the use or threat of violence. Arguably the best diplomats should be those least capable of wreaking violence and most susceptible to being victims. Power to bring violence would seem to undermine diplomatic credence. But the weak may lack the necessary prestige to influence others. Powerful yet humane military generals sometimes make excellent diplomats, such as George Marshall after WWII. Colin Powell had the potential, but made the mistake of agreeing to work for George W. Bush.

Disability - That condition which distinguishes human beings from the divine, some distinctions being more apparent than others.

Disarmament - The great fear of war mongers and defense contractors, e.g. Bush and Cheney.

Discretion - The better part of valor said Shakespeare. A good way to avoid unnecessary conflict. One of the many qualities totally lacking in George W. Bush.

Doctors - Mechanics who work on the human machine. Some act like auto mechanics, but many others apply the extra skills required to work with machines that have feelings.

Draft - The only form of involuntary servitude currently allowed in the US, erroneously construed by the Supreme Court as not in violation of the 13th Amendment. The Bush Administration has so far managed to avoid using the draft, through a combination of misuse of the reserve and national guard, jingoistic appeals to supposed patriotism, and marketing of enlistment benefits to poor people and aliens. Those too young to know the Vietnam War era firsthand might begin to understand what it was like by imagining the Iraq War being fought for ten years, mostly by young American boys who were forced into military service against their will and who died at a rate of two dozen for each one now being killed in Iraq.