Independence Day Reflections
By Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich
07 July, 2010
Countercurrents.org
Wendell Philips, the famous abolitionist, was of the opinion that 'two kinds of men generally best succeed in political life; men of no principle, but of great talent; and men of no talent, but of one principle - that of obedience to their superiors.' Mr. Obama embodies both. Lacking principle, he obeys the command of the pro-Israel lobby groups and continues to deny the Americans their independence.
July 4th has a special significance in American history. On this date, the Declaration of Independence was signed. At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III. The colonies objected to "Taxation without Representation". Today, the Americans are still subjected to taxation without representation as the traditions of parades and fireworks once firmly established as part of American Independence Day culture have given way to fireworks in service of Israel. Clearly this President finds servitude more gratifying than Independence.
Every betrayal starts with trust. As Americans looked to Mr. Obama for change, peace, and security, he inked his pen with cowardice and signed the sanctions legislation against Iran into law. On the heels of reports of 125,000 jobs lost in June, Mr. Obama betrayed his duties to serve the American people and covered his act with a blanket of lies by declaring from the White House that "in the entire world, there is only one signatory to the NPT ---- only one ---- that has been unable to convince the International Atomic Energy Agency that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes". Mr. Obama's remarks indicate that the 'international community' is convinced that America's nuclear arsenal is for peaceful purposes, and Iran's inalienable rights under the law are in violation of the law comes. Given the gravity of the U.S. economy, this president who is indeed a man of talent and no principle heeded the command of Benjamin Netanyahu to impose "crippling sanctions" on Iran (Woodard, The National, Sept, 2009), deprive Americans of hundreds of thousands of desperately needed jobs and an annual savings of $38-76 billion - a high price tag for servitude.
This Fourth of July, fireworks will once again fuel the apathy of a nation at war with its own future - a nation on a path of self-destruct in order to serve the agenda of another. It will be a day like all other days bearing witness to the Americans being cheated of their independence and sovereignty -- fireworks, flags, and taxation without representation.
Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich is an independent researcher with a focus on U.S. Foreign Policy towards Iran and Iran’s nuclear program, and the role of lobby groups in influencing US foreign policy. She is a peace activist, essayist and public speaker.
