When things like this happen, we realize that this phenomenon of awakening in society is not just cornered in the eclectic circles of “hippie earth lovers”.

I am pleased to present a short essay written by a friend of mine.  He is well educated in economics and has a background of history and the “formal” education we all look at with respect.  When you sit with  group of people, many of them reference facts or data that they themselves are not really familiar with.  Afshin is not one of those people.  He states the facts based on research, and logically sound arguments.  It was refreshing to hear an argument for discussions that many of us who are part of this awakening process participate in regularly, that is solid and direct to the point.  Welcome aboard Afshin.

What are you doing out there?

In July 1846 Henry David Thoreau was arrested and jailed for failing to pay his taxes as he protested the Mexican American war.  Legend has it that while he was in jail, the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson comes to visit and asks him
“Henry what are you doing in there? Why not just pay the tax?  Thoreau replies, “are you against the war?” Emerson replies,” yes.” Thoreau responds,” then the question is what are you doing out there?”

On Apri 15, as Americans across the country race to the post office to file their taxes they should pause for a moment and reflect on Thoreau’s philosophy of “Civil Disobedience.”  They should consider where their tax dollars are going.  They should think about how they are unwittingly financing the suffering of anonymous faces half-way across the world.

As you calculate your taxes this year consider the following figures:

2,500,000     The number of US military personnel covering the globe
$700,000,000,000    Department of Defense Budget in 2010
$717,270,978,000    Cost of the Iraq war (to date)
167    The number of countries with US military bases

So this year when you write that check for the IRS ask yourself…..”what are you doing out there?”

Afshin Sabouri

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