Running on Inferno’s Platform

By Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich

"Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate" (Abandon all hope, you who enter here) Dante Alighieri – The Divine Comedy; ‘Inferno’

04/22/07 "ICH" - -- - There is an inordinate frenzy to occupy the White House in 2009. Perhaps Mr. Bush’s overreach and abuse of Executive powers has inspired candidates; or it may simply be the idea of rescuing the United States from her various dilemmas. What is undeniable is that while some candidates may be sincere in their aspirations, others simply want a chance to kill in our name. Twitching fingers ready to commit genocide, one presidential candidate had even been practicing how to commit mass murder to a tune.

Senator John McCain (R, Arizona) while on a campaign in N. Carolina, was videoed singing “bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” to the tune of the Beach Boys “Barbara Ann”.[i]

To this ‘hero’ of the Vietnam War, the White House means not only prolonging the Iraq war and the death of more Americans and slaughter of Iraqis, which he has strongly endorsed , but also the genocide of innocent Iranians. Given that he is lagging behind in fundraising, it comes as no surprise that he should target Iran, lie about Iran’s aspirations to destroy Israel, and hope to receive AIPAC’s blessings and be bank-rolled by them. No doubt, in spite of inciting mass murder, the mainstream media will boost his popularity with the backing of AIPAC, and he will be the frontrunner for the 2008 Republican elections - the war hero who learned nothing from Vietnam and the killing massacre that went on there.

It is up to us, the American people to evaluate our standing at home and in the world. Have we reached the ‘point of no return’, the gates of hell described by Dante, where the likes of McCain will lead our future to more lies and bloodshed? Not only has our country been run amok by the current Administration, but those who look to step into their shoes are planning to take us to far darker places. McCain is not only a United States Senator who represents the people of Arizona, but he is a high profile representative of the United States. What message are we giving to the world when presidential candidates walk around telling the world that America will “bomb, bomb, bomb” whomever they don’t like?

A man like McCain is not fit to hold political office. He is not above the law, and if he has disgraced the United States and his office, he should be asked to resign. If we continue on a self-destruct path of maintaining not only double-standards, but starting wars and occupations, we will find that we have indeed failed the inferno test. Should we fail to act now, then we are deserving of the fate that awaits us tomorrow through the politicians that will lead us to hell.

"Through me the way into the suffering city,
Through me the way to the eternal pain,
Through me the way that runs among the lost.
Justice urged on my high artificer;
My maker was divine authority,
The highest wisdom, and the primal love.
Before me nothing but eternal things were made,
And I endure eternally.
Abandon every hope, ye who enter here."

Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich is a USC graduate. She majored in International Relations. She is an independent researcher and peace activist.