Michael Vick, the former starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons kills about 20 pit bull dogs and loses nearly $180 million dollars; George W. Bush and Richard Cheney kill about 250,000 Iraqis and about 4500 Americans and they get to remain president and vice president. The companies that have so liberally been given very lucrative contracts by this administration continue to profit widely from the re-building of Iraq. Vick is going to jail for 23 months. What is wrong with this picture?

Are you telling that 20 dogs are worth more than the thousands killed and maimed for life in this war of personal choosing and aggression that violates our constitution in every way imaginable?

One man pulls himself by his bootstraps from a much challenged child hood and life of poverty to the position of star quarterback for the Falcons by hard work and determination. The other two men came to power through the efforts their fathers made and not by anything they did on their own. Neither one of the latter two men would even serve this country honorably in the United States Military yet they feel they can exploit the people who do serve to their own advantage.

Can anyone explain this to me in a way that can possibly make any sense? I want to know what the hell is happening in America if we are going to continue to let this happen. What are our morals if it is more important to our society to protect animals before human life? Don’t get me wrong, I understand that Vick should be punished some way for what he did and he is facing it. But what I can’t get my head around if the fact that the perpetrators of this war of choice and aggression are walking around free. While the congress seems as if they cannot find their fourth point of contact with both hands and a flashlight, this administration waltzes free.

Everyone keeps telling me that justice will come if we wait for it but I say no justice ever came to those who did not actively pursue it. I want to know what the hell it will take to get us to wake up as to what it happening here in this country? How much more injustice will we be willing to take from the people who say they know what’s best for us before we decide to act in self defense? Are we lemmings waiting to be shown the way to our deaths mindlessly and not move to take ourselves out of danger?

America, please stand up for your descendants if not for yourselves, before it is too late.

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About author Sgt. Kevin Benderman is a ten year Army veteran who served a combat tour in Iraq at the time of the initial invasion. He returned to file a conscientious objector application as his legal show of refusal to further participate in a military action he knew to be wrong. He served over a year in prison for his actions. Please visit Sgt. Kevin Benderman is a ten year Army veteran who served a combat tour in Iraq at the time of the initial invasion. He returned to file a conscientious objector application as his legal show of refusal to further participate in a military action he knew to be wrong. He served over a year in prison for his actions. Please visit www.BendermanDefense.org to learn more. You may write to Kevin at info@BendermansBridge.org