Roughly two weeks ago on September 19, 2007, Colin Powell came to my school Saint Xavier University in Chicago and gave a lecture, just days after the John Kerry incident. Below is my response to what was said...
Colin Powell’s lecture on September 19, 2007 was an impediment on humanity and was disturbing on so many levels. Never before had I felt such a strong need to scoop up all our soldiers and shield them from this onslaught on reason that they are risking their lives for. I had gone to his lecture hoping to hear some semblance of remorse in his voice for his deceit, perhaps a slight quiver, but I heard nothing... I witnessed nothing. His obvious disdain for humanity sent shivers down my spine and tears welled up in my eyes, because I was not looking at just any man without integrity, but a powerful one. As the audience obediently clapped at his jokes about airplanes, my heart broke for our soldiers in Iraq, and I wondered who stole America’s ability to question, re-examine, and ultimately think critically.
He began his lecture thanking Saint Xavier University and Chicago profusely for permitting him to speak, and then he proceeded to maintain a light note by speaking about his personal achievements and materialistic possessions. No doubt it was spectacular that Colin Powell was the first African American Secretary of State, but when I look at him I see a greedy, manipulative, and deceitful Wall Street white man. After stepping down as Secretary of State, Colin Powell stated he "had intellectual emptiness," since he could no longer declare himself with an air of arrogance the," number one diplomat of the free world." If he was ever the, "number one diplomat of the free world," then humans are in an intellectual downward spiral. His "intellectual emptiness," should have been attributed to his failure to exercise diplomacy to the fullest for the sake of integrity, before ignoring world opinion and beginning the brutal occupation of Iraq.
Later in his speech he stated, in reference to the terrorists, that America would, "chase them with all forces at our disposal," which is preposterous since this administration continually fails to use diplomacy and basic knowledge of the Middle East before deciding anything. His failure to permit the United Nations to use sanctions to search for the weapons of mass destruction that he claimed were being developed by Saddam Hussein, was a diplomatic nightmare and remains one. With Former CIA director George Tenet, Colin Powell presented the claim that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to the world and rallied America to attack. Recently George Tenet has stated that there was never any substantial evidence that Saddam Hussein had the potential to develop nuclear weapons, something our deceitful General would have been aware of. Despite being responsible for the deaths of nearly 3,800 American soldiers, Colin Powell is still able to walk about as a free man without remorse for his reprehensible actions.
His reluctance to re-examine whether or not it was morally right to deceive Americans, leads me to believe that he is not a critical thinker. When he continued to speak about his experiences as a diplomat, he mentioned an instance when he spoke to the Soviet Union leader Gorbachev in the 1980s. As he discussed various aspects of foreign policy with him Colin Powell didn’t listen attentively, because he was a "Commie." Regardless of whether you agree with a person’s perspectives you should at least attempt to listen to them, just like I did for him at his lecture. When members of the audience asked questions with any hint of criticism towards his actions as a diplomat he wouldn’t allow them to continue. His reluctance to listen to Gorbachev and the questioners are prime examples of what it is to not be a critical thinker.
Throughout his lecture Colin Powell avoided speaking about the Iraq War, but he wasn’t reluctant to speak about his personal experiences and played the role of a comedian. Since Colin Powell does not deserve my respect, not once did I stand or applaud for him or his jokes, instead I glared at him with disdain as I listened attentively (I wouldn’t stoop to his level). One of the few sane things said at the lecture, was a man screaming "traitor," at the greedy, manipulative, and deceitful Wall Street white man. That lecture was an assault on reason, humanity, and integrity that can only be surpassed when our beloved President opens his mouth.
He has not changed... he still attempts to stuff the same lies of the Bush Administration down our throats... The Petraeus Report... Everything they say he said... How disturbed would you have been?