Where the hell are we headed?

Ah, those archetypal words every impatient child being taken for a long ride asks. It's a curiosity we seem to lose as adults. Maybe we just fear to ask it. Or maybe we just don't give a shit.

After the theft of a national election in 2000, did we as Americans really think fair and open elections would occur in 2004? Having easily accepted voting impediments and irregularities in Florida, Ohio, NM, etc. last November, we willingly swallowed the results.

It went down easier than four years earlier. A sure sign we're getting somewhere I suppose. But when will we finally arrive at where we're going?

Now we promote--no demand--democratic reform in places like Ukraine; Condoleeza Rice globe trots, challenging nations such as the Sauidis and Egyptians on democracy issues; the President spews democracy platitudes "to kind of catapult the propaganda" in nearly every public appearance (yes! he admits it openly). And we accept that.

At what point do we look at our own house first and ask, "Are we almost there?"

But this seems a minor a transgression for a nation that, if it can't provoke a war with stepped up aggression against a country like Iraq, initiates it based on fear mongering and trumped up lies.

Or abrogates international treaties to practice torture in prisons around the world. And the list goes on. And it's incredibly long. From a department in the capital that manufactures stories and distributes it to local media across the nation as "news"; payments to national talk show hosts to promote administration propaganda; phony newspersons credentialed to attend/ask softball questions at White House press conferences. All quietly accepted without question.

When do we dare ask, "Are we almost there?"

What of an independent investigation of unanswered questions of 9/11? Night before last I was reading of the gag order on FBI interpreter Siebel Edmunds. The information she is prevented from revealing on 9/11 cuts to the core and implicates many in places of power in our government. Media don't cover these kinds of allegations.

"Is it possible?" I found myself loathe to ask until reminded of the horrific corruptions carried on publicly by people like Rep. Tom DeLay who continues in power unabated. Of course it's possible!

The list goes on and on. But as a nation, we lack the collective inquisitiveness to ask, "Are we there yet?" Why? Because if asked, it would beg the bigger question, "Where the hell are we going?" And no one, but no one, wants to "go there."