Raymond Soulard, Jr. New Songs (for Kassandra) - The ...

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Raymond Soulard, Jr.
Notes from the Northwest
Introduction: This new feature marks a sequel of sorts to Notes from New England, begun in issue 24-25 (Winter 1998). By
way of introduction, I wrote then: “This series is intended as a gathering-place for observations of various lengths upon the world
around me. It will be culled, like much of my writing, from my notebooks, and perhaps these thoughts will be expanded upon
sometimes as well.” I have recently realized anew that sometimes my private writing wants for an audience, & thus here is its
cobbled-up venue for such. I think reviving this project is a hopeful gesture, from some beloved old days toward these later ones &
those to come. The torch needs an upraised hand to carry it along. –RS, 10-31-2006
If George Bush stopped lying for just a moment & said, “The invasion of
Iraq was tied to political security through strategic military dominance,
economic prosperity through petrochemical plentitude, & religious supremity
for Christianity over every other dominant religion in the world,” some would
have stayed with him. If he had said, “Americans have too many rights &
freedoms, are lazy & coddles, & need to be massed coherently toward the
perpetual reign of American Empire & its countless benefits to Americans,”
some would have balked; some would have cheered. If he had said, “The
American race is superior for its heterogeneity but must now seal its borders &
purge those who do not worship money & Christ, do not regard English as the
superior human language, & cannot see that rights for women, minorities, &
gays must be curtailed for the greater good,” he would right now be in a much
stronger position to defend his party’s dominance of government in the
November 2006 Congressional elections. His lying came from weakness, his
downfall from trying to build a modern global empire while pretending he
aspires to be no more than a good president, & willing to let go his power in
two years. He yearns to be the king, he’s said as much himself. If he had gone
the Hitler route fully, nakedly, his rise would still be marked, & his inevitable
fall, like Hitler’s & all other emperors before him, would be several years away.
Perhaps those who are hopeful his end is near will be proven wrong in early
November, but I don’t think so. I think his fall is becoming more audible as the
ground nears. The sound of a lunatic’s last moments of rage, his cry that it’s
not fair, none of it. Many hear this cry now & there is a greater feeling of hope,
however dark-hued it remains, than in years.
******
The Cenacle | 59 | October 2006