recovering neocon

Whew. It's been a crazy couple of days, flying up to see the house on Thursday, then being giddy with joy and exhaustion on Friday, trying to work but spending most of the day spinning my wheels. I should have recognized the low-concentration syndrome and thrown in the towel earlier; instead, I figuratively banged my head against the wall for hours.

Well, deep breath, back to reality - deadlines, blogs, a dog with eyedrops. If it's quiet at work this weekend - and it's Memorial Day weekend, you'd think all the attorneys could stay home - I can catch up on Ancient Civs and get paid for it, too.

I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement. It really means a lot to me. And thanks to Howard Kurtz - does anyone else think of Joseph Conrad every time they see that name? - I've received more welcoming email from Canadians, an email from another American couple making the move, and more page-loads than I've ever seen before.

I found today's entry on Common Dreams; if you frequent that site, you will discover the wellspring of many a post of mine. The original is from Lew Rockwell, a site I discovered through our Progressive Libertarian, Kyle_From_Ottawa.

Drew O'Neill writes:

Two years ago I was a neocon. I supported Bush's war on Iraq and I called everyone who didn't a liberal Kool-aid drinker. I voted for Bush in 2000 and I listened to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and just about any right-winger on the radio that I could get a four-word talking point from to use against liberals. I would say things such as "liberals won't defend America," "shut up and sing," "freedom is on the march," and "you're a great American." I supported the war at first because I bought into the lies and propaganda.

I no longer do. I'm a recovering neocon.

He closes with this:

And in the end it doesn't matter if we are liberals or conservatives because all that matters is that we are on the side of the U.S. Constitution and of international law. Both of which have been thrown into the toilet by this administration. At least the Qur'an has company.

Read the rest here.

It takes guts to change your mind, to leave the safety of the fold and think for yourself. Every American who speaks out against the war and the occupation brings us one step closer to the critical mass needed to end it. Here's to you, Drew O'Neill.