Leave the troops there, lower their pay
October 30, 2007

The first war protest I ever watched was from the balcony of The Crescent City Brewhouse. I was haveing a great time eating and drinking with my land lord, Ajit Singha Asi. We're both peace lovin' fellows but like most people, both of us have the capacity to use violence or threats of violence to manifest our justified will. For me this was most notably done by removing crack-heads from my stoop. Though Ajit is of a much larger stature than I, he is a naturally gentler man, but his background is from the warrior faith Sikhism. The Sikhs are bound at times to grow their hair out, carry a tiny comb, wonder woman bracelets, special underwear and a short dagger. To those of us who are juvenile this may seem humorous, but anyone with sophistication will recognize the garb as a means to achieve ultimate religious coolness. At any rate, it sure beats a Zucchetto Stole Cassock.

As we sat on the balcony at the beginning of the Iraq invasion watching the protesters, I couldn't help but feel no connection to the movement. The primary reason being that I had ignored history, international/national/local news and politics my entire life. Only a fool would say they're against something when they don't know what it is. More than that though, what I recognized was somewhat of a fashion statement being made with the protesters and their totally hip political action. I'm not sure why the French Quarter was decided to be the best place to make an impact: Jefferson would be a much better target. The first decade of this Millennium has proven to be quite an earth shaker, for it successfully perked my ears to the "events" of humankind and political agendas. It only took a terrorists attack, an idiot president, neohippies and North America's largest man made natural disaster, to do so.

Since then I've taken a crash course in politics and religion and the insanity both tend instill in a man of a rational nature. A good example of this just happened in the election of Louisiana's first "Indian" head of State. His name is Bobby and he is as southern, catholic and republican as any politician I've ever seen. The newly elected President George W. Bush appointed him Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Planning. Seven years later, less one charity hospital, Bobby is still about as Indian as I am. I don't really know enough about him to outright dislike him, but on a very superficial level, I just can't stand his prickish grin. I hope the Vishnu is on his side. After he won the election, I watched WWL in astonishment as Indian businessmen materialized on my tiny TV stating that they are getting ready to do business with our State. I know we have the enormous asset of the Mississippi port but why on earth do we need an "Indian" governor to import Indian goods? It sounds racist to me. Maybe I'll call any local big business corporation and complain to an Indian in India about importing outer sources. I liked the message behind Campbell's campaign. Louisiana should be compensated from the foreign oil imports that wreck our wetlands, endangering the gem of the south; we don't need more cheap foreign curry powder.

I've been hearing more and more sympathies going out to our foot soldiers in Iraq. "Bring our boys home" is the mantra. Has anyone asked the boys why they chose to be in the military, if they don't want to be fighting the good fight? The people elect the president, the president declares war, the boys are slaving for freedom. It's their honor, it's their adrenalin rush, it's their paycheck, it's the learned skills and experience they'll use at home for the rest of their lives. I am against this war but the war is simply the end of a chain of votes by the United States people. That's why I believe the draft is an essential element in a Nation State's Army. I'm concerned about human rights and world peace but on a survivalist level, I'm concerned with the peace in my backyard and the liberty behind my apartment walls first. To achieve this there is only one solution: Everyone needs to mind their own fucking business and the States need to be treated equally by any axis of goodness. This is a difficult goal to achieve so long as gods deciding what isReal eState.