The Madness of War

As if getting killed on the battlefield in some obscure place weren't enough, U.S. Armed Forces personnel are killing themselves in growing numbers. This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. American soldiers are all over the place doing their corporate masters' bidding, sometimes so repeatedly -- like the guy who got killed recently in his 14th tour of duty -- or in such extreme conditions that they become damaged goods and end up committing suicide. American imperialism comes at a very high price in casualties, not only for those who die at the hands of, very often, people who are just responding to the fact that their homeland is being invaded, but also those who, being sick of mind and spirit for what they have been put through, take their own lives. I suppose that many come to realize, perhaps too late, that they have been taken advantage of and brainwashed into believing that they are fighting for democracy and freedom. Faced with the awful truth, they can't take the shame and the insanity of it all, and blow their brains out.

Personal responsibility is at issue here. Every individual must examine critically what is it that his government is asking him to do. War is no picnic, and should not be entered into thoughtlessly. It's better to be court- martialed for refusing to go, than to be tried for torturing or killing others wantonly. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Belgian Buggery

The Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal won't go away; instead, it keeps growing every day.  Take the story out of Belgium, where a report has been issued that details what went on, including more than a dozen suicides linked to the abuse perpetrated by priests and  a cover up that continues to this day, when a Belgian bishop suggested that a complaint be withheld until 2011, when the bishop who covered up for the offending priest will retire.  With each passing day, it becomes more and more difficult to hold that this behavior was just the work of a few rogue priests.  There are just too many cases all around the world, for anyone to believe such a thing. This is clearly a major problem which the church tried to hide from the authorities and recklessly let it continue, without any regard for children elsewhere, by transferring priests.  There is no excuse for this unpardonable sin.
Read more

Hear, Hear!

Not that it means a whole lot, but, still, the gesture has some significance. After 33 years on the throne, the Dutch queen, at 76, will abdicate in favor of her son. Not subject to election by the vote of her people, she has done the right thing by resigning, so to speak, and letting her son carry on with the royal duties. At 86, and 60 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth would do well to follow this example. Hanging on to the throne at her age and after so many years seems excessive and ungenerous. The same goes for King Juan Carlos, who has just turned 75, and has been on the throne for 37 years. His son will be 45 two days from now, so is already older than his father was when he became King. In Juan Carlos' case, he has, of late, given signs of poor judgment, that could very well be a result of his age. Queen Elizabeth and King Juan Carlos should follow Queen Beatrix 's example.
Read more

Chinese Capitalism

The fact that Asia now boasts of having the biggest number of millionaires in the world is a sign of the times. The predictions of a few years ago have come true: China is the world's next superpower, and the increasing wealth of its economic elite shows it. The sleeping dragon has awakened.
Read more