Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead

Ding Dong! The Witch is dead.
Which old Witch?
The Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong!
The Wicked Witch is dead.
Wake up - sleepy head,
rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead.

Yes, it may sound a bit odd, but this image was the first thing I thought of when I caught the news this morning. Both online and on the television, people are jumping up and down for joy that the infamous Osama Bin Laden had been killed in Pakistan. While I am glad that he has been found and some sort of justice served, I pause to think about all who paid the ultimate price during the last 10 years. I am, of course, talking about the brave men and women of the coalition forces, but I also want to give you a few more numbers to ponder. Do with them what you will. Just food for thought.

• Sept 11, 2001. American civilians killed Approx: 3,000
• Oct 2001 to April 2011. US and coalition forces killed in Afghanistan: 2,340
• 2001 to 2009. Lowest estimated number of Afghan civilians (not counting insurgents) killed as a direct result of US and coalition actions: 5,664

The last number is a compilation I have made from the lowest year by year numbers that I have found by various independent watch groups. The actual civilian death toll in Afghanistan is likely to be astronomically higher if and when official reports are ever released.

So, for now, let´s just revel in the moment that one more evil man in the world is dead. Yes, he was a particularly evil man, but lets not forget all the innocent lives lost in the process on all sides. War is, after all, a terrible thing, but deemed necessary by the ¨powers that be¨ on occasion. Some will chalk it up to the old slogan of ¨Sh!t Happens¨, but it´s far from over yet.

Lets sing along shall we?

She's gone where the goblins go,
Below - below - below. Yo-ho
Let's open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!

Updates and Random Thoughts April 2, 2011

It´s been a busy, but less than productive day as I made my way around, but things continue to come together. As far as court goes, I have found a funny little loophole that I might be able to use. The Thai police are holding my passport at the moment, but it was the only way I could get out on bail. The charges of overstaying my Visa are pretty cut and dried. Normal procedure for this crime is immediate detention and deportation. Please keep in mind that foreigners are required to pay for their own deportation or serve jail time until they can afford to pay. Not a pretty picture for me. However, Thai law says that a person cannot be deported or jailed for deportation as long as another case is still pending in the court. This is where my charge of working without a permit comes in. As long as the prosecution proceeds with the working violation case, then I can stay out on bond and continue to work on my case. If they drop the work permit violation, then they will send me out of the courtroom in shackles to start serving a very long sentence. My plan is to protest that they proceed with the charges on the work permit so I can see justice. My only other option is to commit another crime of some sort and then post bail again, but I really don´t like that idea.

Time to answer the ¨hot topic¨ question of the day. Many people have asked me this, and I thought it was time to address it.

Question: Why don´t you just come home to the U.S.???

Answer: Many reasons, but I will try my best to explain them. First of all, as I stated many times before, this country (Thailand) doesn´t just put you on a plane and send you back home if things go wrong. You go to jail for a long time and then pay a huge fine, and the pay your own way back to whatever country you came from. Secondly and more importantly, I have a deep appreciation for the people and culture of this country. When I came here nearly two years ago, I was on death´s door. My health was failing, my mind and spirit was a mess, and I was moments away from putting a gun to my head and pulling the trigger. It has been a long battle pulling myself back up from that place in my life, but I have done it thanks to the many friends I have made here. They have showed me a new way of life and thinking that has been so good for me. Even at 37 years old, I am now in the best physical condition of my entire life. I can do and have done things that I would not have even imagined doing when I was in my 20´s. More importantly, my mind is finaly getting clear of all the things that have been holding me back for so long. These are the reasons why I fight to stay here and continue to rebuild my life. I realize that many people back home may not understand, but I can accept that. I just hope to express my thoughts on the issue, take it or leave it.

All the best from the Kingdom of Thailand,
Matt
Take care everyone. 24 hours to go, and I am at peace with whatever happens.