Victory

Certain words, when uttered by a person, mean what the word is intended to mean. But, those same words, when said by a different person, lose meaning and can instead become ironic.

Such is the case of Bush's latest euphemism for the quagmire in Iraq, "Victory."

Let's examine the situation that is Iraq before coming back to the meaning of the word "Victory."

First, the U.S, led by Bush and his cronies, invaded a sovereign nation, bombing the hell out of cities, killing people.

Second, the reason that we entered - supposed weapons of mass destruction, were never found.

Therefore, we entered for a lie. We entered this sovereign nation for no reason other than the feelings of fear and revenge for something that had nothing to do with Iraq. I am talking about 9-11. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11, despite the President's attempt to blur the distinction between 9-11 and Iraq in order to cover up the lie of weapons of mass destruction. So far we have two lies.

Third, after capturing the leader of this sovereign nation, we attempt to fix the mess which dismantling the central government of a nation does.

I am talking about civil war and insurgancies. Iraq, consisting of competing factions of people is now in a state of unrest, which is really an understatement. We are attempting to apply a form of democracy which has yet to be proven effective in a country that is completely different than us - history, culture, religion are all different.

So, we will be pouring billions of dollars into Iraq, according to Bush to get their police force able to fight insurgencies. Now --- it is very important that it is clear that we caused these insurgencies by invading and disrupting the central government. We caused this mess. Peiople are dying everyday over there -- Iraqi citizens.

Now, let's go back to the word "victory" uttered by Bush. We will be spending billions of - tax payers'- dollars (your buck) in Iraq in order to claim "victory". No weapons of mass destruction. No connection to 9-11. Civil unrest. Insurgencies. Countless people dying everyday in Iraq.

So, the word victory is just not appropriate, unless you intend the word to be ironic. Because "victory" is very ironic, uttered by our President, to justify our mess in Iraq. Victory over what?

The answer is nothing. There is not victory but a big fat mess.

I pass, each Monday under an overpass on I-5 right outside Fort Lewis. Yellow ribbons line the overpass, tied there by what I assume to be loved ones of those who have died in Iraq. I wondered today, as I passed underneath - how many more overpasses would be filled with yellow ribbons if we tied a yellow ribbon for each and every Iraqi citizen who has been killed since we invaded their country. How far would I have to drive before the ribbons would not be there anymore -- Chehalis, Portland? Eugene? Further, shorter?

I also get angry when I pass under this overpass on my way back from tutoring in a high school with a 30 percent dropout rate. That's 30 percent. These kids are begging for an education that works -- something isn't working if there is that many students dropping out.

I wonder -- if we took those billions of dollars, of our money, and applied them to the purpose of having every child in this school graduate. Every child in the U.S. But we can't - because we apparently have to clean up our mess.

Too bad.

But, then again, perhaps the kids who drop out can be recruited more effectively by the military recruitment office they have right in the school. Did Bush's children have recruitment offices right in his kids' school?

Probably not.

7 habits of the Highly Ineffective Person

1. You're lazy and don't care. ---Example: Get up at noon. Make pancakes and coffee. Put a DVD on and get back in bed to watch it. When that movie is done, put in your other movie, which you've already watched 12 times.

2. You're forgetful: Know it is your brother's birthday coming up soon, although you are kind of vague on the exact date. Forget to get him a present. At his birthday party, apologize and tell him you will mail him his present very soon. Forget about it until about a month later. Write yourself a note that you need to get him a present. Lose that note in your highly disorganized desk area. Remember several months later at your other brother's birthday. Get both of them a present so that you don't forget brother No. 2's birthday present.

3. You're a procrastinator: Get to work a half-hour late. Apologize to boss. Take 15 minutes to make a new pot of coffee. Turn on your computer. Take a half hour to talk to your co-worker who stops by, telling her about your weekend and how much fun it was. Take all your pencils and sharpen each one. Surf the internet all the while glancing over your shoulder to make sure your boss isn't watching. No it's lunch time so you go to lunch. After lunch, it's the weekly birthday party/wedding shower birthday celebration. Take an hour to eat cake and socialize.

4. You hate schedules: Decide to not have a calendar or appointment book this year because it takes too much effort to maintain.

5. You lock yourself out of your car and home at least once a month: Lock your keys out of your car just as you get to school. Call a locksmith and wait by your car for an hour until he gets there. As you get your backpack and keys out of your car, realize class is out. Get back in your car and drive home.

6. You love piles: Keep reshuffling your piles of papers and books in your room. Straighten the piles, one for bills, one for your to-dos and one for old bills. When they accidently fall over and mix, reshuffle them around. Intend to file them away but decide you can do that tomorrow.

7. You don't have a 7th habit yet. But you are sure to form another.