I am still bothered by this, but it is clear that Andrew Mickel is committing suicide. The suicidal martyrdom of a believer for his cause. He does not wish to live, and he is using the court to commit suicide.

I believe that Andrew Mickel is a sign of the times. We have entered an era when more and more people are realizing that real change does not occur in a ballot box. Here in America, the disaffected are portrayed as having mental problems, except ... that isn't quite true. Andrew Mickel is not sick, or even misguided. He is a product of the political discourse, its venom, and acrimony.

The republicans are sowing seeds of disaffection both within their ranks, to drum up support for their agenda, and in their opposition. The democrats are somewhat less militant, to their own demise, they realized too late that the current leadership was not interested in democracy or negotiation. The attacks appear nightly on every media outlet, there is nowhere to go to hear a rational discussion, and as a result, there is no climate of unity for America.

We are involved in an armed conflict, and the president who once commanded a domineering 90% approval rating has fallen below 50%. He barely survived the last election, and most certainly would not have been re-elected without major manipulation of the voting process. Everyone understands this. The losers, and the winners. The winners just think it's okay because they are happy their guy won.

We are involved in a verbal civil war at a time when we should be having an honest discussion to find middle ground. But middle ground would eliminate the power of those who are in control.

The ultra-religious minorities of this country have been granted power well beyond their due, and they have not moderated their rhetoric. They are wiling that power in a vengeful, hyper aggressive manner. They abuse, and harm more people than they imagine, and still believe that they are the aggrieved party.

Andrew Mickel is a sign. A sign that the internal conflict within America has reached a point in which individuals are willing to act out their anger from the left as well as the right.

The right has been committing violent acts for quite some time with no repercussions. Abortion clinics are bombed, doctors shot, and the 'leaders', the 'politicians' tacitly support their 'movement' while supposedly distancing themselves from the act itself.

Tom Delay is a perfect example of the right's willingness to tolerate criminal behavior to advance it's power. He threatened judges with reprisals if they don't make decisions he agrees with. He uses this to gain power, the power to force unpopular, and improper decisions through the judiciary. If they were popular decisions, supported through a democratic consensus, he would not need the threat of reprisals to accomplish his goals.

This, in turn, raises the level of power that must be raised to oppose him. It encourages the self-determined to act in a way that they feel empowered to oppose, or enforce. The soldier of god, or the soldier of the opposition fighting against oppression.

Andrew Mickel will go to his grave convinced that it was proper to oppose police brutality, and I agree, but the assassination of a fellow human being is wrong. Police officer, doctor, you name it.

Believing that you are empowered to take justice into your own hands is NOT anarchy, it is anti social. Anarchy does not mean without rules, it means without leaders. There is an implied respect for your neighbor, and his beliefs, and that you will be treated with respect in return.

Today, we have entered a culture of vengeance. A culture of Enforced Consensus, fear intimidation and self appointed arbiters of their cause have taken this rhetoric and taken the next logical step.

How far will it go? I dont know. But the Republicans, and ultra-right christians are pushing their agenda without any thought for the values of the country.

As an example of the attack philosophy which is ruling america these days, and which is broadcast as news, I present this excerpt from and article on Life News. Basically, all of the senators in the country want this issue to go away and stop embarrasing them. But the ultra-religious minority get a forum on Fox News as if they are the mainstream.
On Fox News Channel's "Hannity and Colmes" program, Santorum said he has talked with members of Congress about looking into the [federal] judge's actions [in the schiavo case].

"[W]e cannot continue to expect that the laws that we pass and the intentions are clear, that are just simply ignored by the judges and have their nose, basically thumb their noses at us," Santorum said. "And here is a situation where the intent of Congress was clear."

Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said he would pursue contempt charges against Greer for ignoring Congressional subpoenas.

"The Congress will pursue this, if we have to hold him in contempt of Congress," DeLay told radio talk show host Sean Hannity.

"We will do everything to enforce the power and authority of the Congress and no little judge sitting in a state district court in Florida is going to usurp the authority of Congress," DeLay added.

No little judge sitting in a state district court in
Florida is going to usurp the authority of Congress

Never mind that congress was way out of line with what they did. Forget the fact that congress wishes they could pull the feeding tube out of this issue. The ultra right religious followers of DeLay, et al, are calling the shots. DeLay is the most powerfull man in the House of Representatives, and he is a criminal, with absolutely no sense of politics, the will of the majority, or any redeaming values.

Does it really surprise anyone that there are now people like Andrew Mickel on the left who have given up on political discourse?