Rep. Pete Stark on "Guns or Butter"

Chicago is filled with debate over new taxes to cover the cost of running a major American city. Washington, D.C. is filled with debate on providing healthcare for children. Few people are asking where a large slice of our public dollars are being spent -- the War in Iraq.

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) was quoted in the October 19 edition of the Chicago Tribune: "You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement." The article continues that "The National Republican Congressional Committee called Stark's statement 'an outrageous and delusional tantrum.'"

I would called Stark's comments "righteous outrage" at the delusional policies of the Bush administration. Stark is speaking truth to power in the tradition of the Hebrew prophets confronting the dangerous and corrupt policies of kings. George Bush has fed us at least three delusions: Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction, military victory is possible, and the highly polarized Iraqi society is capable of democracy -- even a democracy that can be a glorious light to other Islamic nations in the Mid-east.

Speaking of delusions: What were 75% of church-going Christians thinking when they elected George W. Bush to a second term in 2004? The role of ancient Hebrew prophets was not to forecast the future. It was to tell the truth about the present, speak with passion, and get the people's attention. Thank God for the vigorous and courageous voice of Rep. Pete Stark. His voice gives me some hope that there might be reason to be a proud American.