Monday, May 28, 2007

When democracy fails

MANIFESTO

I find that the death of Andrew Bacevich has affected me more than any of the other fairly faceless fatalities that have occurred in Iraq. Bacevich wasn't a professional football player, wasn't a member of a minority, but was a BU-educated son of an academic who decided to serve in the armed forces even though his father has been a strident critic of the war.

Yesterday, the father, Andrew Bacevich, Sr., expressed his grief over his son's death and over the failure of the American system in an op-ed piece in the Washington Post.
The people have spoken, and nothing of substance has changed. The November 2006 midterm elections signified an unambiguous repudiation of the policies that landed us in our present predicament. But half a year later, the war continues, with no end in sight. Indeed, by sending more troops to Iraq (and by extending the tours of those, like my son, who were already there), Bush has signaled his complete disregard for what was once quaintly referred to as "the will of the people."
So, what to do? The elder Bacevich really doesn't answer that question, but he certainly implies that if the will of the people cannot be implemented via the ballot box, another solution may be necessary.

This is revolutionary talk. I believe that a good portion of the American populace is patiently counting the days until January 20, 2009, so that the kind of violence implicit in Professor Bacevich's sentiments can be avoided. It seems to me that Americans are willing to wait—but not forever.

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