George W. FrankenBush:
A Monster Made In America


Inauguration Day 2005 will be remembered as a date of American infamy. On that day, we confirmed to the world what everyone already knew: We somehow lost our collective minds. For the second time, Karl Rove's creation, George W. FrankenBush, swore allegiance to our nation. The very same nation he's done everything in his power to destroy. "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" was a man in a lizard suit, a movie fiction. With every passing day, FrankenBush looks more like a lizard in a man's suit, a sad reality. We're constantly told we voted in record numbers to endorse the crimes of the FrankenBush mob. It's a mystery how his hand didn't slip off the Bible because it's soaked in Arab blood.

In four years, FrankenBush has looted the treasury, snatched the projected surplus, bribed his shadowy donors, created a mountain of debt, voided the constitution, ruined the economy, sent jobs overseas, polluted the environment, defunded our schools, mangled the arts and sciences, overfunded the defense budget, ignored the corporate crime wave and split America into red and blue camps. Internationally, he's "unsigned" treaties, declared endless war, endorsed torture, destroyed two nations, kidnapped Aristide, built a useless missile shield, badmouthed our allies, bankrolled Chavez' overthrow, riled the Red Chinese, incited a return of cold war hostilities and led a global crusade against a billion Muslims.

The rest of humanity noted our descent into isolation. They responded in many ways. Despite Anglo/American propaganda to the contrary, the European Union is succeeding. Its economy is solid and the Euro is sound. The problem of integrating disparate cultures has been managed well. Cooperation yielded valuable fruit when Airbus replaced Boeing as the world's leading passenger-jet manufacturer. FrankenBush sneers: "We don't need Old Europe." New Europe politely replies: "We don't need your jet planes."

US Agribusiness attempted to shove genetically engineered (GE) products down our throats. The EU set up barriers against GE grains. Other nations rejected these products, as well. Conclusion: We can eat this crop crap ourselves because nobody (except the poor) wants it. Big Pharma makes a killing sucking up the savings of our seniors and the sick. Governments around the world protect their citizens by demanding better prices. Our greatest shame is viewing seniors at the border being arrested for buying US drugs in Canada.

FrankenBush says we don't need hybrid cars. Foreign hybrid car makers hold a mile-long waiting list of American customers. FrankenBush says global warming is a myth. The other nations are reducing emissions, whether or not we ratify the Kyoto Protocol. FrankenBush says we don't need an International Criminal Court. The other nations support the ICC. Now, Germany is referring cases alleging US use of torture and other crimes against humanity. FrankenBush says: Since we're the sole superpower, the law is what we say it is. The other nations uphold the rule of law, applying diplomacy at the United Nations.

The evil FrankenBush regime will fail because the other nations won't tolerate our tyranny. If the dollar collapses, the Euro will replace it as the global reserve currency. If we refuse to reduce our budget and trade deficits, the other nations will refuse to buy our debt. If we continue to wage war against defenseless people, the other nations may declare war against us. FrankenBush wanders around Washington jangling the keys to our nuclear arsenal. How frightening must this nightmare get before we beg for help?

George W. FrankenBush waltzed down Pennsylvania Avenue as the protests flared all around him. He was isolated from the marchers carrying symbolic coffins. The parade route was full of military school cadets who cheered the motorcade. FrankenBush was delighted by the applause. So, he left his bulletproof car and walked part of the way. If there was any justice left in America, FrankenBush would've met the soldiers he's made every effort to avoid. The vets from his wars would've formed a chain in front of FrankenBush; looked him straight in the eye and removed every prosthesis. Then, they would've tossed these limbs at FrankenBush as the blind vets threw their new canes. After contemplating this sad scene, Americans must make a choice. We must either choose FrankenBush or support our fallen vets. We must either support his monstrous wars or demonstrate until the troops come home. We must either remain asleep in FrankenBush's nightmare or wake up and do something about this madness. The sands in Fate's Hourglass are swiftly running out. Just what are we going to do? America is headed for the ash heap of history. Just what are YOU going to do?

Franklin L. Johnson
starhelix@aol.com

What Made Martin Luther King, Jr.?


Every January we celebrate the life of the noblest American of the 20th century, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His birthday is now a well-established national holiday. Even those who opposed it seem to have drifted into the cold corners of our dark and dismal past. Yet, there's a risk this day may suffer the ultimate insult of becoming just another excuse to shop and occupy our couches. Therefore, it's important to refresh our memories as to what fashioned Dr. King into God's most humble servant.

Dr. King was born Michael Luther King, Jr., on January 15, 1929. He later changed his name to Martin. This was the same year as the great stock market crash which ended a decade of greed, followed by years of grinding poverty. His father and grandfather were strong Baptist pastors. He attended segregated public schools and graduated from high school at the age of fifteen. He received his bachelor's degree from Morehouse college in Atlanta. After three years of study at Crozer Theological seminary, he was awarded a B.D. degree. In his last year, he was elected president of the mostly white senior class. With a fellowship from Crozer, he attended graduate studies at Boston university. There he achieved his doctorate of philosophy in Systematic Theology in 1955.

Dr. King's leadership skills were tested immediately. Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger on December 1, 1955. Four days later, he was elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association. He helped coordinate the 382-day Montgomery bus boycott. It's rarely noted Ms. Parks was sitting in the section reserved for blacks (Negroes) at the time. Jim Crow laws required blacks to vacate the next seat in the black section if seats in the white section were full. It was a case of heaping insult upon injury. She simply protested the additional oppression. This seminal event sealed Dr. King's destiny. His career would last only 13 years.

Martin Luther King was at the center of the civil rights struggle which led to the 1963 March On Washington. He rose to the occasion and offered his vision of a better future in his "I Have A Dream" speech. Less than three weeks later, racists responded by bombing a Birmingham church, killing four black girls. On December 10, 1964, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Dr. King the Nobel Peace Prize. He was murdered in Memphis as he stood on a Lorraine motel balcony. The date was April 4, 1968. Ever since, America has suffered from malignant doubt, despair and damnation.

Dr. King should be remembered because he was more than a leader. He was a champion. All leaders can define the problem (square "A"). All leaders can provide the solution (square "B"). Only champions can inspire people to risk moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar, even when it's obvious the change is in their own best interests. Dr. King's words resonate with the power of faith and hope. You can still be moved merely by the sound of his voice. Most of all, this prophet should be remembered for spreading the holy gospel of love. Despite the savage abuse and threats he bore for the sake of justice, he always taught us to love one another. To his dying day, he stood as a pillar of fire against the darkness. That light was snuffed out 37 years ago. America continues to suffer from the loss of her soul.

If Dr. King were alive today, he would collapse in tears from the grotesque shape of our nation's deformity. He'd be amazed a decrepit creature like George W. Bush could find his way into the highest office of our land. Despite the pain he would feel from witnessing our evil actions, he would refuse the sensuous allure of despair. He would summon us to redouble our efforts for peace and justice. He would stand up for the sake of righteousness and say: "Without love, there is no peace. Without love, there is no justice. Without love, there is no America." What made Martin Luther King, Jr.? It was love, sweet love.

Franklin L. Johnson
starhelix@aol.com