Questions and Contemplations: The Real Axis of Evil

Lullabies from the "Axis of Evil"

Take a good look at this photo. A real good look.

Why? Because it is children such as this one that are being slaughtered each and every day in the Middle East, simply because they happen to be citizens of member countries of the so-called "Axis of Evil", as defined, naturally, by the US government. They are being slaughtered essentially because they are Arabs, Muslims and/or happen to inhabit a parcel of land that certain power-hungry, money-hungry neo-colonialists have set their sights on. Even if I believed that "Arab terrorists" were responsible for 911 - which I don't - that would in no way, shape or form justify the genocide that is now being carried out in the name of America, in honor and in tribute to the "Vengeful God" of George Bush and his neocon brotherhood.

In President George Bush's State of the Union address on January 29, 2002, he listed the countries which made up what he called, "The Axis of Evil" - regimes that, according to the US government, sponsor terror. These states were Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. This "axis" was later widened to include Syria, Libya and Cuba in a speech made in May of 2002 by Under Secretary of State, John Bolton. Last month, the new Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, extended this list yet further to include the countries of Belarus, Burma (Myanmar) and Zimbabwe - calling them "outposts of tyranny".

Well, that's quite a list we've got there, isn't it? Nine countries. It probably won't be long before France and China are on it as well, plus any others who might not take much of a liking to the US's imperial dream of a "New World Order".

In any case, for the time being, we've got Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Cuba, Belarus, Burma and Zimbabwe.

Now, in order to justify going in and attacking, raping and occupying a country, a government needs to first demonize the people of that country. They must convince their own people that those "others" - all of them - are little more than wild animals that need to be "taught a lesson" or exterminated. They very often need to stage some sort of an attack in order to succeed at this. 911 anyone? Pearl Harbor?

Once the attack is carried out, the propaganda machine rolls into action, full force. To many Americans, all Arabs and Muslims are now terrorists. They all oppress women and children, they murder their own, and they starve their own. They are all animals. They are all born demons, devils, servants of Evil, who deserve annihilation.

Now, look at the above photo again. Does this look like a "terrorist" to you??

Would you call such a child - and the mother, father and siblings who would mourn her death in an air-raid in some Iraqi or Palestinian city - a "terrorist"?

Or would you call the ones who are responsible for her death the terrorists?

Who is the one representing the true evil here?

Think about that for a while.

The Merrian-Webster dictionary defines "terror" as the following:

"Violence (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands."

Let's rephrase that:

"Violence (as bombing)" - Iraqi cities and Palestinian villages, for example - "committed by groups" - such as the US and Israeli governments - in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands" - such as saying, 'Hand over your weapons of mass destruction (never mind that you don't have any), or we're going to come in and take them ourselves. Then we'll install our fascist "democracy" in your countries and set up all of our corporations there, too."

So, let's see. Who might that be describing?

Who are members of the real "Axis of Evil"?

Certainly not that child, nor others like her. Certainly not the mothers who are singing the lullabies on the CD that belongs to that cover photo above. Mothers who all come from places like Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, Cuba and North Korea. **

No. These are people - human beings - not "animals". They weep, laugh, grieve, celebrate, fear and dream, just as you and I do. They cherish the ideals of freedom, independence and justice. Just as you and I do.

Remember that the next time someone tells you that what the US and Israel are doing in the Middle East is justified.

Remember that the next time someone tells you that all Arabs are "terrorists".

** See Lullabies from the Axis of Evil for information on the CD, including sound clips of some of the songs.

About the CD:

"This extraordinary collaborative work by women from around the world brings a new sense to the Bushian phrase by making a statement of hope and peace in an age of chaos. The album contains 14 lullabies from Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Cuba, sung by women from these countries including Rim Banna, Mahsha Vahdat, Sun Ju Lee, Jawahar Shofani, in duets with 'western' artists including Nina Hagen (Germany), Eddi Reader (Scotland), Sarah Jane Morris (England), Lila Downs (USA/Mexico) and Mimi (USA), all within compositions by Knut Reiersrud and a group of musicians from Norway and the world. Thus the record forms 14 small musical bridges between east and west, north and south. A complete track, sound samples and artist listing follows below. "