Neither Left Nor Right
AN ESSAY BY CHUCK ZLATKIN

I don't care if you are a patriot or a progressive, a Libertarian or a Green, or some shade in between, now is the time for us to find a way that we can work together. It is a challenge, but we have to try. The solution does not lie in either "left" or "right", because either direction ultimately will take you around in circles.

I'm willing to do my share to find peaceful solutions to our common problems.
I have a feeling that both you and I want to stay true to ourselves no matter what goals we pursue. Mutual respect is a key, for if you respect a person you'll listen to what they have to say.

Awhile back, it became evident to me that the only way I was going to experience peace in this world was to attempt it with one person at a time. I care about my country. I was born in America and have lived here my entire life . I've worked here, paid my taxes to my country and raised a family. It is, therefore, important to me to come together with my fellow citizens to work things out. I have done this in the past through my community organizing. Now I am trying to detail to people how I think is the best way to work in organizing my fellow citizens to reclaim our country.

Many people respond to what I write. Some of them have shared both experiences and resources. Others, however, have been quite hostile. Though much of my life has been in association with the "left" ...some of the hostility has come from that direction They reject my idea that it is important to organize all the people who are opposed to the war in Iraq. They believe that you only organize those who are in agreement with you on all matters. This further serves to divide people. One critic too a different approach. He said " stop writing this commie shit, you liberal faggot."

I wrote back and thanked him for his letter. I praised him on his ability to turn a phrase.

Currently, I'm in the process of meeting with people in my neigbhorhood to see if enough of them agree with me to get something started. My program is simple: "Stop The War Iraq, End The Occupation, And Bring The Troops Home." If you disagree with me on every other issue and you want to stand with on my oppostion to the war, I say "welcome."

Where there's life there's hope. I admit to you that I still have hope. When they snuff out our hope, they can put down their guns. For, on that day, they will have won.

During the election, we had two members of the Skull and Bones Society as the major candidates for the presidency of our country. During the Vietnam era, we had two members of the Skull and Bones Society as leaders in the anti-war movement. One was John Kerry and the other was the Reverend Wiliam Sloane Coffin. They too were were blood brothers. Coffin was from Riverside Church in NYC, and was well respected by many, especially the Rockefeller family.

Coffin became a member of Skull and Bones after he served in military intelligence but before he went to work for the CIA. Now, there are some excellent anti-war credentials.

We are involved in a massive learning process and there are many questions to be asked. Anyone who tells me that he has all the answers is someone of whom I am wary.

We must develop the awareness that the left/right game is over. It can be thrown on the pile with all the "isms" that are now "wasms." The truth may challenge the essence of our belief systems. We must be prepared to let them go.

The policy of "divide and conquer" was followed by "divide and rule." It was an ingenious technique. Keep 50 percent of the population at odds with the other 50 percent and they will never look up to see the puppet masters operating their strings.

Life is precious and I'm committed to living that truth regardless of who is president.

All life is precious and we must stop the killing now. I do not want to participate in the useless slaughter of people. The powers-that-be are waging war against innocent people in my name and with my tax dollars. The United States is committing genocide against the people of Iraq. A million lives have ended since the start of Gulf War I. What is the reason.....does anyone know? This is not my vision of America.

"Stop The War In Iraq, End The Occupation, And Bring The Troops Home."

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