Sunday, March 16, 2008 was about to become one of the most memorable days in United States history since the days of the American Revolution when courageous statesmen, soldiers, and citizens came together and declared independence from Great Britain. As O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members mingled around the St. Kitts headquarters readying themselves for the upcoming address from Interim President Colin Powell, technicians were busy setting up and testing feeds to all the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. "field sites" in restaurants, gymnasiums, community centers, schools and libraries around the nation. This address would also be carried by most of the operating television stations; since the announcment yesterday, there was optimistic speculation that Powell was going to do something spectacular. Random unscientific surveys indicated that the audience was huge - perhaps as many as two hundred million people in the U.S.A. would be listening and watching. O.U.T.R.A.G.E. was also gearing up to broadcast this telecast worldwide. At precisely 10:00 a.m. Powell stepped forward and faced the cameras. Dressed crisply in his military uniform, adorned with all of his medals of commendation, Powell stood at a lectern at the center of a podium where more than nine dozen others faced him at a diagonal angle. His face looked squarely into the camera as he opened his address:
"My fellow Americans, and all citizens of the planet Earth who may be watching, I welcome you with a heavy heart. The great United States of America has suffered a series of devastating events in recent times. On January 17, 2008, President George W. Bush, Vice-President Richard Cheney, and 533 members of our United States Congress were among hundreds of thousands of other citizens who were killed in a succession of technologically-devised bombings that impacted on virtually every major community in our country. Bombs made from cheap readily-available materials and remotely-controlled by cheap cell phones were set off, with the full intent to murder and maim innocent citizens. This mayhem was planned, implemented, and executed with astounding precision and meticulous accuracy by a group of several hundred thousand other U.S. citizens who believed they had a patriotic duty to take matters into their own hands. As I have stated before, what they did was - in my mind - inexcusable, immoral, unjust, and despotic.
On Wednesday, January 23, this group - whom I intentionally refuse to identify by name because I believe that would give credence to their evil deeds - began to introduce the first of 25 articles, each article being a non-binding resolution which would then be put before American voters. On President's Day, a resolution was introduced to elect me as your Interim President until new elections can be held in November. On Tuesday, March 4, 2008 I was elected to that post by an overwhelming majority of those who voted. Arizona Senator John McCain was elected Interim Vice-President at that same time. Twenty five resolutions were introduced, all of which were passed into law on March 4, again by an overwhelming majority of those who voted. As we began the ardent task of rebuilding and reforming our nation, our country was hit by an unprecedented and unseasonable hurricane which obliterated most of our eastern coast cities. Less than ten days later an enormous earthquake ripped through the greater Los Angeles area of southern California. These three events - only one of which was not a natural disaster - have decimated our nation. Millions of people are dead. Millions more are injured. Millions more will suffer permanent or long-term psychological repercussions from the results of all this chaos.
We want to thank all of our citizens from the heartland of our great country who have voluntarily brought themselves to both coasts in an extraordinary outpour of communal giving. We also owe a great debt of sincere gratitude to all the people of all the other nations on Earth who have so generously sent manpower, supplies, food, and equipment to help us deal with this crushing continuum of cataclysmic catastrophies. The United States of America owes the world a huge debt, and as clean-up crews and rescue missions continue around-the-clock, we wish to begin the process of healing our own nation and bringing the world together for important work that can no longer be delayed or neglected.
The last article of resolution that was introduced on Tuesday, February 26 was intended to offer an apology to the world. It is that point where the United States now wishes to begin. Formal legislation has been passed by American voters and a "Declaration of Apology to the World" was drafted. Signed and numbered copies of this declaration have been delivered to every one of the 193 recognized sovereing nations on the planet. Heads of State or other official representatives of 108 of those countries are seated before me today. To all of you - and to all of the other 85 nations of the world who could not be represented at this auspicious occasion - on behalf of all the citizens of the United States of America, I respectfully and humbly offer this official document as permanent witness that what we have done in the name of our 'superpower' prowess has often been less than decent, moral, or justifiable. For the harm we have inflicted upon the world, we profusely apologize.
While some may perceive this as a sign of weakness during a time of incredible atrocity, we view this as perhaps one of our country's strongest moments. For the first time since our own Revolutionary and Civil wars, Americans are beginning to come together in search of a fresh purpose and new beginning.
What we have done in the name of honor, God, justice and democracy has - at times - been less than apropriate. Along with our formal apology to the world, we are also making this pledge: the United States of America will from this day forward try to be a better citizen of the world promoting only those causes which will benefit mankind collectively. We are calling on all of the nations of the world to join us in this quest. As proof of our commitment to this mission, we have already begun to dismantle our military-industrial complex. We cannot expect to ask other nations to discontinue their weapons programs, diminish their own defense systems and stop nuclear proliferation if we don't intend to do so ourselves. Therefore, I have ordered all nuclear weapons of mass destruction stockpiled in the United States and its territories to be destroyed. We will invite press and representatives from any nation on Earth to be present to witness these projects so that the world can be assured that we have done what we said we would do. This process will take many months, but it will be ongoing and it will be continuously under public scrutiny at all times. Under the Freedom of Information Act, all records will be made available to the public, or anyone requesting such information without deletions due to national security interests.
We have already had commitments from many of allies who have agreed to begin the same process of elimination within their own countries. We urge all other countries of the world to follow suit - and we encourage it to be a public process wherein anyone can participate in witnessing such programs of elimination. The world can no longer live under the threat of nuclear annihilation. The United States was the first and only country to use atomic weaponry to defeat an enemy. Warring is no longer a viable option toward peace. We have seen too much devastation and mayhem caused by madmen who innocuously believed that conflicts could be resolved with guns and ammunition, bombs, tanks, missiles, and fighter jets. Fighting never enriched any nation; it only served to enrich those corporations who manufactured the killing devices. I served under the late George W. Bush as Secretary of State. I devoted my life to the military principles. I now believe that the massive war machines and military might so many countries have nurtured must now be used only for peaceful and productive purposes. From now on, the United States military will be used to further service and implement social and environmental needs of the world. We will lay down our arms and pick up our shovels, working toward making this entire planet a more pleasant place in which to live. Our primary focus will be on crucial needs so necessary to save this world from self-destruction:
1. Environmental issues will take absolute top priority in an effort to preserve and protect the delicate ecological balances between man, plants and animals so that we all may co-exist in harmony, as Nature intended. REuse, REturn, and REcycle programs will be initiated. Global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer will be given priority attention.
2. Infrastructures throughout the world will be rebuilt and streamlined to allow for better commerce and connections among all nations of the Earth.
3. The United Nations building in New York City has been completely destroyed by the hurricane. All that's left standing is a weakened shell of the structure. We invite all the nations of the world to join in forming a new coalition to share in reforming our international idealogies so that all mankind can exist in harmony and mutual cooperation toward saving our planet instead of looking out just for ourselves.
4. Energy conservation among all industrialized nations will take on a new precedence. We propose that nations work together for the good of the world in trying to consume less of our Earth's natural resources.
5. While we're very good at creating symposiums for defense and domination, we have been less successful in working toward mutual advantages that might best serve mankind. We urge all nations of the world to join us in creating such new projects.
Yes, there will be many who are going to accuse the United States of this 'change of heart' only because it finds itself weak and vulnerable right now. Perhaps to some extent that's true. But we firmly believe that we have ignored many of these world-wide issues for too long. Perhaps these events have served as the catalyst to remind us of our place in the world, and to force us to recognize how we've abused our 'superpower' status in the past. The five initiatives are just the first step; there will be others. But, as we needed the help of our American citizenry during these past few months, we now need the help of the entire world as our country recovers. We cannot fully recover without doing right by the world. May the divine powers by which you seek your own spirituality and inner peace guide you toward committed involvement in this new enterprise.
Thank you."
Commentators immediately scrambled to deliver their own versions of Powell's address. Critics called it self-serving; those who believed the open intent of the proposals put foward highly praised Powell's efforts. Behind the scenes, O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members were working with officials from all 193 nations of the world to quickly implement change.
The rest of the day - and into the night - was devoted to round-table discussions, call-in segments, and reviews of such an extraordinary supplication. Television stations around the world, newspapers in every major market on the globe, and even radio stations joined in the fray. Could this possibly work? The world had been at war for so long, it seemed unimagineable that everyone could come together toward a more productive common goal.
"My fellow Americans, and all citizens of the planet Earth who may be watching, I welcome you with a heavy heart. The great United States of America has suffered a series of devastating events in recent times. On January 17, 2008, President George W. Bush, Vice-President Richard Cheney, and 533 members of our United States Congress were among hundreds of thousands of other citizens who were killed in a succession of technologically-devised bombings that impacted on virtually every major community in our country. Bombs made from cheap readily-available materials and remotely-controlled by cheap cell phones were set off, with the full intent to murder and maim innocent citizens. This mayhem was planned, implemented, and executed with astounding precision and meticulous accuracy by a group of several hundred thousand other U.S. citizens who believed they had a patriotic duty to take matters into their own hands. As I have stated before, what they did was - in my mind - inexcusable, immoral, unjust, and despotic.
On Wednesday, January 23, this group - whom I intentionally refuse to identify by name because I believe that would give credence to their evil deeds - began to introduce the first of 25 articles, each article being a non-binding resolution which would then be put before American voters. On President's Day, a resolution was introduced to elect me as your Interim President until new elections can be held in November. On Tuesday, March 4, 2008 I was elected to that post by an overwhelming majority of those who voted. Arizona Senator John McCain was elected Interim Vice-President at that same time. Twenty five resolutions were introduced, all of which were passed into law on March 4, again by an overwhelming majority of those who voted. As we began the ardent task of rebuilding and reforming our nation, our country was hit by an unprecedented and unseasonable hurricane which obliterated most of our eastern coast cities. Less than ten days later an enormous earthquake ripped through the greater Los Angeles area of southern California. These three events - only one of which was not a natural disaster - have decimated our nation. Millions of people are dead. Millions more are injured. Millions more will suffer permanent or long-term psychological repercussions from the results of all this chaos.
We want to thank all of our citizens from the heartland of our great country who have voluntarily brought themselves to both coasts in an extraordinary outpour of communal giving. We also owe a great debt of sincere gratitude to all the people of all the other nations on Earth who have so generously sent manpower, supplies, food, and equipment to help us deal with this crushing continuum of cataclysmic catastrophies. The United States of America owes the world a huge debt, and as clean-up crews and rescue missions continue around-the-clock, we wish to begin the process of healing our own nation and bringing the world together for important work that can no longer be delayed or neglected.
The last article of resolution that was introduced on Tuesday, February 26 was intended to offer an apology to the world. It is that point where the United States now wishes to begin. Formal legislation has been passed by American voters and a "Declaration of Apology to the World" was drafted. Signed and numbered copies of this declaration have been delivered to every one of the 193 recognized sovereing nations on the planet. Heads of State or other official representatives of 108 of those countries are seated before me today. To all of you - and to all of the other 85 nations of the world who could not be represented at this auspicious occasion - on behalf of all the citizens of the United States of America, I respectfully and humbly offer this official document as permanent witness that what we have done in the name of our 'superpower' prowess has often been less than decent, moral, or justifiable. For the harm we have inflicted upon the world, we profusely apologize.
While some may perceive this as a sign of weakness during a time of incredible atrocity, we view this as perhaps one of our country's strongest moments. For the first time since our own Revolutionary and Civil wars, Americans are beginning to come together in search of a fresh purpose and new beginning.
What we have done in the name of honor, God, justice and democracy has - at times - been less than apropriate. Along with our formal apology to the world, we are also making this pledge: the United States of America will from this day forward try to be a better citizen of the world promoting only those causes which will benefit mankind collectively. We are calling on all of the nations of the world to join us in this quest. As proof of our commitment to this mission, we have already begun to dismantle our military-industrial complex. We cannot expect to ask other nations to discontinue their weapons programs, diminish their own defense systems and stop nuclear proliferation if we don't intend to do so ourselves. Therefore, I have ordered all nuclear weapons of mass destruction stockpiled in the United States and its territories to be destroyed. We will invite press and representatives from any nation on Earth to be present to witness these projects so that the world can be assured that we have done what we said we would do. This process will take many months, but it will be ongoing and it will be continuously under public scrutiny at all times. Under the Freedom of Information Act, all records will be made available to the public, or anyone requesting such information without deletions due to national security interests.
We have already had commitments from many of allies who have agreed to begin the same process of elimination within their own countries. We urge all other countries of the world to follow suit - and we encourage it to be a public process wherein anyone can participate in witnessing such programs of elimination. The world can no longer live under the threat of nuclear annihilation. The United States was the first and only country to use atomic weaponry to defeat an enemy. Warring is no longer a viable option toward peace. We have seen too much devastation and mayhem caused by madmen who innocuously believed that conflicts could be resolved with guns and ammunition, bombs, tanks, missiles, and fighter jets. Fighting never enriched any nation; it only served to enrich those corporations who manufactured the killing devices. I served under the late George W. Bush as Secretary of State. I devoted my life to the military principles. I now believe that the massive war machines and military might so many countries have nurtured must now be used only for peaceful and productive purposes. From now on, the United States military will be used to further service and implement social and environmental needs of the world. We will lay down our arms and pick up our shovels, working toward making this entire planet a more pleasant place in which to live. Our primary focus will be on crucial needs so necessary to save this world from self-destruction:
1. Environmental issues will take absolute top priority in an effort to preserve and protect the delicate ecological balances between man, plants and animals so that we all may co-exist in harmony, as Nature intended. REuse, REturn, and REcycle programs will be initiated. Global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer will be given priority attention.
2. Infrastructures throughout the world will be rebuilt and streamlined to allow for better commerce and connections among all nations of the Earth.
3. The United Nations building in New York City has been completely destroyed by the hurricane. All that's left standing is a weakened shell of the structure. We invite all the nations of the world to join in forming a new coalition to share in reforming our international idealogies so that all mankind can exist in harmony and mutual cooperation toward saving our planet instead of looking out just for ourselves.
4. Energy conservation among all industrialized nations will take on a new precedence. We propose that nations work together for the good of the world in trying to consume less of our Earth's natural resources.
5. While we're very good at creating symposiums for defense and domination, we have been less successful in working toward mutual advantages that might best serve mankind. We urge all nations of the world to join us in creating such new projects.
Yes, there will be many who are going to accuse the United States of this 'change of heart' only because it finds itself weak and vulnerable right now. Perhaps to some extent that's true. But we firmly believe that we have ignored many of these world-wide issues for too long. Perhaps these events have served as the catalyst to remind us of our place in the world, and to force us to recognize how we've abused our 'superpower' status in the past. The five initiatives are just the first step; there will be others. But, as we needed the help of our American citizenry during these past few months, we now need the help of the entire world as our country recovers. We cannot fully recover without doing right by the world. May the divine powers by which you seek your own spirituality and inner peace guide you toward committed involvement in this new enterprise.
Thank you."
Commentators immediately scrambled to deliver their own versions of Powell's address. Critics called it self-serving; those who believed the open intent of the proposals put foward highly praised Powell's efforts. Behind the scenes, O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members were working with officials from all 193 nations of the world to quickly implement change.
The rest of the day - and into the night - was devoted to round-table discussions, call-in segments, and reviews of such an extraordinary supplication. Television stations around the world, newspapers in every major market on the globe, and even radio stations joined in the fray. Could this possibly work? The world had been at war for so long, it seemed unimagineable that everyone could come together toward a more productive common goal.
posted by Bushwacker! at 7:05 AM
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