Are we there yet?

I recently read an article that set my mind reeling. I encourage you to go read the article and think for yourself, but basically it says that the US is in either a pre-fascist or all out fascist state right now.

The term fascist is thrown around a lot. There is even Godwin's law on debate circles of the internet that states the first person who compares the other debater to Hitler, a Nazi or a fascist automatically loses the argument because it is such an easy cop out.

That said fascism is more than a boogie-man. It is something to be guarded against and the previously mentioned article got me thinking, are we really on that slippery slope? Here's why I think we truly might be:

1. We are a country "by the people, for the people" in two wars the people don't want. I feel the war in Afghanistan was justified, and perhaps the Iraq war was at the time, however the Defector who convinced the White House of the WMD's has admitted he lied. I feel that if the people don't want a war, even if it is justified, then the politicians should follow the will of the people.

2. Our country is now locking people up for months on end without any form of trial.

3. Our elected officials have decided to attempt to remove civil liberties in some instances "for the good of the state"

Fascism is difficult to quantify because it is neither strictly Right or Left. It is first and foremost an authoritarian form of government. Fascism is usually seen as far right, but the economics are far left to create a large government that the citizens come to depend upon for everything.

A much better description of fascism is at Wikipedia and the more I read it the more I wonder, are we there yet, and if not, can we change course?

The one ring

There's a piece of jewelery that to me is a sign of my love for Heather more than any other. Most people would logically assume it was my wedding band. While that band is very important to me and is a sign of our love and commitment, it was “expected,” that is to say I picked the wedding band, I knew it was going to be given, and I knew when. This in no way diminishes the importance of my wedding band, but it was “proper” that I receive it when and how I did.

The most important jewelery to me is Heather's high school class ring that hangs on a simple 14 k gold chain around my neck where it's been ever since she gave it to me the summer after we started dating. This ring has only spent 1 night that I can recall off my neck, and that was when I had spinal surgery and due to blood lose couldn't ask for it.

Heather gave me her ring on a piece of string (that I wore it on until the string broke) when she was staying at UWL for upward bound over the summer. To me that was a sign that she felt about me the same way I felt about her.

Whenever I have to take off my jewelery (for x-rays or at the airport) this ring and chain are always the last thing I take off and the first I put back on. Whenever I feel lonely or am missing Heather I hold (and sometimes kiss) that ring and hope that somehow she knows I'm thinking about her at that moment.

Heather probably doesn't know that I'm writing this, and a few will think it's sappy, or not “manly” but my response is screw them. This is how I feel and I wanted to share it with the world.