David Wiggins' Columns
Support the Troops Right Here!
Column by David Wiggins.
The Legal Trade in Illegal Drugs
"I never intended to become a drug dealer. In fact, even now, I don’t want to be a drug dealer. But a man has got to earn a living; put food on the table, and make sure the kids have shoes on their feet. I could not do this without dealing drugs. Besides, dealing drugs makes me a lot of friends." Column by David Wiggins.
Serving One's Country - Correspondence with a Cadet
Recommended "...because you are young, you lack a certain degree of personal experience. The particular views you espouse are based on ideas that have been taught to you and for whatever reason, you believe more or less without question. The best advice I could offer you as you go through life is to take nothing for granted, and to continually try to square your beliefs with reality. In that way, you will progressively approach the truth rather than constantly be forced to rationalize fantasies about life." Column by David Wiggins.
George Bush's 'We' Is Shrinking
"It is increasingly obvious that when it comes to his 'War on Terra,' the President is wearing no clothes, and his 'we' is beginning to look embarrassingly small." Column by David Wiggins.
Ashcroft Is Winning: Libertarians Begin to Knuckle Under
"The patriots are succumbing to the Patriot Act." Column by David Wiggins.
Column by David Wiggins.
"Pity the poor soldier, he needs your support. Killing and maiming are difficult sport. It is not enough that you tithe to his creed. It is not enough that your labor provides for his every need. Throw him a parade! Do it in red, white, and blue. Praise his exploits! Shout it out loud! Ease his insecurity. That’s what the soldier needs you to do." Another provocative column by David Wiggins.
Truth and Lies on the War in Iraq
"It seems there is a three-step process for seeing bad news on CNN, etc. First, evidence of a POW or fatality must be seen on Iraqi TV. Second, there must be a grudging admission by the Pentagon. Finally, we see the story on CNN, MSNBC and Fox." Column by David Wiggins.
"I oppose this government that demands my money, and this President who uses it to violate the peace. I oppose this President who assaults those who have not assaulted me. I oppose this President who invades, bombs, kills, assassinates, destroys, and sows fear and death. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. I oppose this President who, by his aggression invites aggression; who by his violence, invites violence; who by causing death, invites death. I declare my independence from this self-destructive system. I wash my hands of this invasion of Iraq." Column by David Wiggins.
Bush Is a Threat to World Peace
"The Bush administration's policies are increasing the risk of attack not particularly on US soldiers, but on US citizens, and the continental United States. This administration's policies are increasing the number of overt enemies of the United States, the hostility of the enemies we do have, and the probability that any response will be against American civilians, not the US military." Column by David Wiggins.
Message to the Troops: Resist!
"This talk of 'supporting the troops' is just another method our government uses to manipulate and control us. I don't support the troops, but I certainly fear for the lives of the troops. I would support the troops staying home. I regret that our so-called leaders have involved the troops in such a foolish, misguided undertaking. I would support the troops disobeying orders. I feel sorry for the troops' families. I would support the troops if they realized that the best way to defend their families would be to stay alive and healthy and resist this war." Column by David Wiggins.
"I have been told by many military men that prosecuting a war under these conditions would be impossible. Armies could not be raised. Soldiers would not risk their lives. 'We' cannot afford to be just because 'they' are even less just. Therein lies the rub, and the irony. For 'they' are saying exactly the same thing about 'us.' This logic traps humanity in a terminal spiral of injustice and war." Column by David Wiggins.
"War is never imperative, it is always a matter of choice. War is never more than an option taken by military and political commanders....Our authority figures use religion, propaganda, bigotry, racism, and appeals to our sense of nationalism and patriotism in attempts to con us into assisting them in these schemes, or at least voluntarily taking part in them. Beware! Doing what we are told and doing what is right are not the same thing. If they were, there would never be wars." An inspiring column by a man who would have made Thoreau proud, new Root Striker David Wiggins.