Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I simply fall in love.
I don't quite understand why my country always has to be waging a war. If not in Iraq, then in Afghanistan. Or some other place. As an American, I've been brought up to believe that wars are necessary. That there's evil in the world. And that we Americans have to combat evil. And one way to do it is to wage war. To kill people. To devastate. To be tough. And cruel. And stronger and meaner than the next guy. But I'm not buying everything I was taught. I doubt that we Americans, or the world for that matter, are any better off thanks to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I think we Americans would be in far better economic and moral shape if we had waged peace rather than war over the past 10 years or so. Think of all the money and lives we've spent on war. Not only American lives, but so-called foreigners. Albeit, we're all human beings. Of course, we can say that some of the dead are bad guys. And good riddance. But I suspect we've countered bad with bad, and so we're just as guilty of perpetrating bad. We've borrowed the enemies' immoral tactics. I wonder if immorality negates immorality. Oh, I know I shouldn't be a holier-than-thou guy. If someone slaps me in the face, I'm likely to slap back. I fight evil with evil, too. Can't seem to stop the chain reaction. We humans have been brainwashed. To accept war. As a necessary part of life. Love, too. But maybe we take war more seriously than love. But I know how I'm able to survive. And to be happy. And thrilled with life. Despite wars. I simply fall in love. --Jim Broede
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18 comments:
Funny thing. I carry on my own little wars. Skirmishes. With people. I suspect we all do. To some extent. Often precipitated by misunderstandings. Poor communication. Yes, another sign that wars are unnecessary. All we have to do is talk to each other. I mean, truly talk. And listen. And learn respect. --Jim Broede
I've had friends and acquaintances over the years that have drifted away. Mostly because we stopped talking and writing to each other. Yes, a loss of communication. --Jim Broede
It could be that we gradually build barriers between each other. Without fully knowing what we are doing. We lose communication. With others. With ourselves. --Jim Broede
I'm for cultivating good communication. Closeness. Yes, being on the scene. Present. Rather than far away. But many of us have a tendency to want to keep our distance. Thinking that's safe. But really, that's dangerous. It risks the loss of communication. --Jim Broede
Worse of all is the loss of intimacy in our lives. --Jim Broede
We become too cold and calculating. That leads to wars. --Jim
One way to wage peace would be for America to lead the way to a two-state solution in the Middle East. That probably would make it possible for the Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace with each other. And that would make for a better world. We could do it. If only we had the will and determination. Sure beats making war. --Jim Broede
It is common knowledge that the U.S. IS actively involved in peaceful solutions to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. This conflict, by the way, has been ongoing since hundreds of years before Christ.
Why not lambast the current reason for the conflict-the head of the Palestinian Authority, who refuses to negotiate. We are not warring there, but actively seeking peace.
Where in the world do you get your information?
Anon2
Even my hero, Barack Obama, is caught up in the war mentality. Caught up in the system that dictates we go to war. Because it's the macho thing to do. A way to satisfy our warhawks. To serve the military industrial complex. Eisenhower had it right. We have an economy based largely on war. On conflict. On aggression. War puts people to work. My gawd. If we didn't have people in uniform, where would we put them to work? The unemployment ranks would skyrocket. Because we don't know how to create jobs making peace. That would be far more productive. But it wouldn't satisfy the war-mongers. The munition makers. The weapons makers. War also is a boon to the funeral industry. More bodies to bury. More bodies to cremate. Also, I suppose, it helps advance medical technology. We know how to better amputate legs and arms. And think of the wheelchair industry. So many more wheelchairs to sell to paralyzed veterans. --Jim Broede
We aren't active enough. We are merely pussyfooting around. Just living with the status quo. Or making it worse. If we were as good at making peace as we are at making war, we'd have peace. I don't want any more excuses. I want peace. We can do it. All we need is the will. That's what we lack. The will. The fortitude. The gumption. The true desire for peace. Let's get off our fat, lazy asses and make peace. --Jim Broede
OMG, you DO live in the make-believe!
OMG, you DO live in the make-believe!
I hope you realize, I include no one else, in your "we", "us", and "our" statments. Is that a style of writing? Surely, you don't believe you speak for others?
You know, I do have compatriots, of sort. I ran for public office once. For the local school board. And lo and behold, I got elected. And served for 3 years. That goes to show that I have a following. --Jim
I kid you not. My stay in public office can be verified. It's a matter of public record. --Jim
Many of my followers operate from underground. A little like the French resistance when the Nazis occupied France during World War II. We're a proud bunch. And please notice, I say "we." And I'm also saying "oui" in answer to your question. I do speak in French for my militia and my fervent band of loyal supporters. --Jim
One of my heroes is Fidel Castro. I like his socialist agenda. And he's really a nice guy. A bit misunderstood in this country. But so am I. --Jim
Another of my heroes is Nelson Mandela. He stood up for his principles. At times, against overwhelming odds. --Jim
Martin Luther King, too. He's on my list of leaders to revere. --Jim
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