If you’ve never read John Steinbeck’s incredible novel: “The Grapes of Wrath,” you owe it to yourself to do so. If you’ve never seen the movie which starred a young Henry Fonda, you should treat yourself to watching an American classic.

I’ve read that book many times in my life. Steinbeck was one of my favorite authors and I never get tired of his incredible ability to write believable dialog and create “real” characters who breathe and bleed and break the reader’s heart.

I’ve just finished watching that movie again and it struck me how some of that amazing dialog fits so perfectly in today’s environment of dishonest and corrupt government and struggling masses of poor Americans.

A character named Casey, who was killed earlier in the film by the corrupt and violent “cops” who were trying to evict the struggling Americans who were forced west during the Great Depression is discussed by Tom Joad and his mother. The conversation between the Fonda character, Tom Joad, and his mother about Tom leaving his family to strike out and fight corruption and greed in the government near the end is so appropriate today that I wanted to share some of it with those who read my blog:

“What do you figure you’re gonna do?” Tom’s mother asked.

“You know what I’ve been thinking’ about? “’Bout Casey. ‘Bout what he said and what he done and about how he died. And I remember all of it.” Tom said.

“He was a good man.” his mom responded.

“And I’ve been thinking about us too. ‘Bout our people livin’ like pigs and good, rich land layin’ fallow. Or maybe one guy with a million acres and a hundred thousand farmers starving. And I been wonderin’ if all our folks got together and yelled…” Tom said.

“Oh, Tommy, they’d drag you out and cut you down just like they done to Casey!” his mother interrupted.

“They’d drive me out anyways. Sooner or later they’d get me if not for one thing, for another,” he went on.

Their poignant conversation goes on and becomes one of the greatest pieces of dialog in literary and movie history:

Tom says:

“Well, maybe it’s like Casey says… A fellow ain’t got a soul of his own. Just a little piece of a big soul. The one big soul that belongs to everybody. Then….”

“Then what, Tommy?”

“Then it don’t matter… I’ll be all around in the dark. I’ll be everywhere. Wherever you can look. Wherever there’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever there’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad and I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry and they know supper’s ready. And when the people are eatin’ the stuff they raise and livin’ in the houses they build, I’ll be there too.

At the end of the movie, the family is riding in the beat up old truck toward a hopeful future of picking crops for a dollar a day. Another classic conversation takes place to end the movie.

“What’s the matter, Ma? Getting’ scared?” her other son asks.

“HA! I ain’t never gonna be scared no more. Was though. For a while it looked as though we was beat. Good and beat! Looked like we didn’t have nobody in the whole wide world but enemies. Like nobody was friendly no more. Made me feel kinda bad and scared too. Like we was lost and nobody cared.”

Then she makes the stunning point that ends the movie:

“That’s what makes us tough. Rich fellas comes up and they die and their kids ain’t no good and they die out. But we keep a comin’.. We’re the people that live. They can’t wipe us out and they can’t lick us. We’ll keep goin’ on forever, Pa, ‘cause we’re the people.”

So, take heart fellow Democrats.

For a while it looked as though we was beat. Good and beat! Looked like we didn’t have nobody in the whole wide world but enemies. Like nobody was friendly no more. Made me feel kinda bad and scared too. Like we was lost and nobody cared. That’s what makes us tough. Rich fellas comes up and they die and their kids ain’t no good and they die out. But we keep a comin’.. We’re the people that live. They can’t wipe us out and they can’t lick us. We’ll keep goin’ on forever, Pa, ‘cause we’re the people.

George W. Bush is one of those "worthless" rich kids who "ain't no good." Hopefully he will be impeached so our government can be "of the people, by the people and for the people" again.

In my original Kos Diary I described my up close and personal experience with war. In subsequent diaries I have ranted about the members of this administration being cowards and arrogant, incompetent liars. Sometimes I push the envelope a little.

I was discussing with my wife this morning, a converstion I had last night with a fellow Vietnam vet about my experiences during the TET offensive of 1968. I am passionate about my anger with "Georgie" and the rest. But at least my anger and screaming blogs about them are based on "actual" experience with blood and death.

I almost had tears in my eyes today when I talked about this. It's been nearly 40 years since I experienced the horror of TET and the terror of those bloody days.

We put 2,147 casualties through my unit in 48 hours. And casualties means they were still alive and does not include the bodies and body parts I carried off choppers for those 48 continuous hours without rest and while under attack part of the time.

I remember that number because it is written on a "Letter of Commendation" I received for that event. I also remember the date: March 18, 1968. That was another day I almost died. I have a piece of shrapnel on my dresser from that attack. It has that date written on it because it fell in the center of my chest as I lay, cringing in a ditch during a rocket attack.

The point I'm trying to make is this: When I write these words about the cowardice of these "Chicken Hawks" I know what it is like to be afraid. But I learned from that fear and from all the work of saving lives during that tragedy that war is NEVER the answer.

That is why I may rant a little too much about these people. That is why I hate what they have done so much.

That is why we need to impeach Bush!

If he had looked into the eyes of a dying 19 year old Marine as I have and seen the horror of knowing he would die, Bush would have a different outlook. If Cheney had heard the cries and screams of an 18 year old marine with white phosphorous burning inside his belly caused by "friendly fire" with those horrible artillery rounds which should be used by NO army in the world, he would have a different outlook. If either of them had seen arms and legs hanging by a thread of skin while a young marine pleaded for us not to let him lose his limb, they would have been more careful with our brave troop's lives in this pre-emptive war which was neither necessary or justified.

I'm sorry, everyone. There I go again! It's just difficult to have all this inside without sharing it in a time when "they" are calling "me" a cut-and-run Democrat.

Whatever happens with this insanity, I can still look in the mirror and know I wasn't responsible for the deaths of thousands and thousands of human beings. I was there to save lives and treat the victims of another STUPID and unjustified war.

Let me know if I should back off this kind of stuff. It does me good to write it down and show it to you wonderful and patriotic people.

Every time you hear "them" call "us" cut-and-run Democrats... Proudly smile and hold back the urge to scream. I've heard too many screams. I wish George W. Bush knew the horror of hearing those screams in his dreams.

There are still some reasonable justices in the federal court system.

The Bush adminstration would love to completely drown reason and opponents of their illegal and immoral activities but they lost another battle with the constitution today.

This is just another indication of the evil of this bunch of arrogant, incompetent neo-con monsters.

Impeachment is too good for George W. Bush! He is a war criminal who has been the "Puppet King" for an administration which will go down in history as America's worst.

My Yahoo360 friend, Coach, sent me this:

The Republicans are so relaxed in fact they had time to come up with with a new joke...Hot from my work e-mail, cut and pasted as follows:

Are you a Democrat, Republican or Southerner?

Here is a little test that will help you decide.

The answer can be found by posing the following question: You're

walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children.

Suddenly, an Islamic Terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner,

locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, praises Allah, raises the knife,

and charges at you. You are carrying a Glock cal 40, and you are an expert

shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family.

What do you do?

Democrat's Answer:

Well, that's not enough information to answer the question!

Does the man look poor! Or oppressed?

Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?

Could we run away?

What does my wife think?

What about the kids?

Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of

his hand?

What does the law say about this situation?

Does the Glock have appropriate safety built into it?

Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does

this send to society and to my children?

Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me?

Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound

me?

If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while

he was stabbing me?

Should I call 9-1-1?

Why is this street so deserted?

We need to raise taxes, have a paint and weed day and make this

a happier, healthier street that would discourage such behavior.

This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with some friends for

few days and try to come to a consensus.

..................................................................

Republican's Answer:

BANG!

...................................................................

Southerner's Answer:

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

BANG!

click.....

(sounds of reloading).

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

click

Daughter: "Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the

Winchester Silver Tips or Hollow Points?

Son: Can I shoot the next one!

Wife: You ain't taking that to the Taxidermist!

First, I want to thank "Coach" for the laugh.

Now, here's my response as a "politically correct" Democrat:

First I would change the words "Islamic Terrorist" to "man," because I hate the bigotry of profiling. Then I'd point my gun at him and tell him, "One more step and you'll meet Allah now!" If he took one more life-threatening move toward my family, I'd kill him.

Sorry if that's too politically correct for the Southerners and Republicans out there. I was born in Mississippi and come from a long line of "Southerners." I don't like the stereotype that we're all rednecked idiots. Some of us have moved from the past of hatred and bigotry to the bright future of communication and thoughtful analysis of the world.

Republicans might want to try that. It's not so bad here in the 21st century if you can pull your thinking out of the 1950's and try talking and thinking instead of hating and reacting like the "Good Old Days!"

Wow! Finally we can all relax and get back to our normal routine. George W. Bush has cut his vacation short and returned to stand guard for us. In the immortal words of Jack Nicholson: "You want me on that wall! You NEED me on that wall!"

One only needs to note the terror level immediately dropped when our powerful, brave Commander in Chief returned to "that wall." I feel so much safer, don't you?

Hell, they even feel SAFER in Britain.

Truth is, they figured they've milked this one for all it's worth and it's time to find a new way to keep their base frightened. Have no fear though... Every "new" fear tactic MUST be better than the last so I can't wait to see and hear what they brew up next!

Here is Ken Mehlman, the chairman of the RNC on Meet the Press today. This is the kind of ridiculous lies they tell the American people with a straight face. This is why the Republican party is on the ropes. We have to keep them there!

Watch this interview:

meet the press agreement.wmv

There are still 30% of Americans polled who believe this kind of idiocy. Please VOTE in November. Let's all work hard to throw these arrogant and incompetent liars out of Washington and impeach the "Puppet King."

This is why Americans don‘t trust their leadership. Statements from leadership which is filled with lies and distortion!

Pace can stand in front of those brave Marines and tell them such lies because he has had so much practice standing next to our Idiot in Chief doing the same thing. Our leadership is so corrupt and arrogant. It should make red flags rise even on the far right when people watch this kind of thing happening.

Once again, they have proved they will say anything... Do anything... in order to maintain the status quo in Iraq.

More Marines must die. More soldiers must die. More Iraqi civilians must die. That's the sad truth that the consequences of this administration's continued arrogance and lies.