Why do we fight?
It's almost time for our 'holiday' trip to England! When we booked it, it was going to be a relaxed visit to Rita and Brian, my in-laws, so they could spend time with us and the boys and we could spend time together etc. This has changed as we are moving back to England. Now the week is filling up with various job interviews for both of us, maybe some house hunting, visits to friends, both 9 year olds and adults etc. It's all positive and we're looking forward to it. We very much intend to try and get some family time together as well, but it might not happen till the weekend before we come back. Not to worry ... a month after that we are permanently moving and will have plenty of time together.
There is an American documentary out called 'Why do we fight?' It tries to look at what has changed in American society over the last six or seven years that has pushed America into so many conflicts and wars. I've not seen the documentary, and doubt I will, but I saw an interview with the director, who had an interesting and valid perspective on this. His theory was that since Bush took over the emphasis has shifted from spending money on education and health to spending more on defense and military. This has tilted the balance of society towards war.
The number of jobs available within the military and within companies with a business interest in war and conflict increases every day in America. This documentary director talked about an older lady he interviewed who works in a warehouse where they store bombs and other affiliated merchandise. "I'd rather be making toys, you know, but (lifting of shoulders) ..." was her take on the situation. He also spoke about a 'Military Industrial Complex' which is now open to the public. This was apparently one of Henry Kissingers visions. An industrial complex in America is like a warehouse shop ... like B&Q in England. You can take your kids there and shop for laser guided semi-automatic guns, bullets, rifles, pistols, grenades etc. I don't know where they draw the line, or if they draw a line! War has become such a large part of American culture in such a short time and nobody really knows how it happened. That's scary stuff!
So rather than looking at Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, North-Korea, Cuba ... whatever ... America needs to take a long, hard look at itself and introduce some tough love. Because the problem isn't primarily threats from the outside. The biggest threat to America is America ... and it's going to implode again one day, just like on September 11th 2001 ... and they'll blame it on someone else and start another war. And with each war they start they have to put more money into the military. And with each American dollar they put into the military they tilt the balance even more toward needing to be at war, needing to use those bullets. They are tax deductible after all! It's a vicious cycle that needs to be broken.
There is an American documentary out called 'Why do we fight?' It tries to look at what has changed in American society over the last six or seven years that has pushed America into so many conflicts and wars. I've not seen the documentary, and doubt I will, but I saw an interview with the director, who had an interesting and valid perspective on this. His theory was that since Bush took over the emphasis has shifted from spending money on education and health to spending more on defense and military. This has tilted the balance of society towards war.
The number of jobs available within the military and within companies with a business interest in war and conflict increases every day in America. This documentary director talked about an older lady he interviewed who works in a warehouse where they store bombs and other affiliated merchandise. "I'd rather be making toys, you know, but (lifting of shoulders) ..." was her take on the situation. He also spoke about a 'Military Industrial Complex' which is now open to the public. This was apparently one of Henry Kissingers visions. An industrial complex in America is like a warehouse shop ... like B&Q in England. You can take your kids there and shop for laser guided semi-automatic guns, bullets, rifles, pistols, grenades etc. I don't know where they draw the line, or if they draw a line! War has become such a large part of American culture in such a short time and nobody really knows how it happened. That's scary stuff!
So rather than looking at Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, North-Korea, Cuba ... whatever ... America needs to take a long, hard look at itself and introduce some tough love. Because the problem isn't primarily threats from the outside. The biggest threat to America is America ... and it's going to implode again one day, just like on September 11th 2001 ... and they'll blame it on someone else and start another war. And with each war they start they have to put more money into the military. And with each American dollar they put into the military they tilt the balance even more toward needing to be at war, needing to use those bullets. They are tax deductible after all! It's a vicious cycle that needs to be broken.
posted by Tóti Freysson at Wednesday, October 25, 2006
2 Comments:
Hi-whilst I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments (as you know) I am uncomfortable with the 9/11 reference..the victims were not politicians, they were ordinary peole on their way to visit friends or going to work..unfortunately we ordinary people do not always know what power we give to these politicians until it is too late...from your wife, who regards herself as a pacifist,which always evokes another heated discussion... Peace and Love rules.
I agree, we don't always know what power we give them. Of course the victims of 9/11 were innocent. I was just trying to say that the guilty criminals weren't just from outside the US ... they were also the elected rulers and protectors of those innocent victims ... and that makes it even worse. Peace and Love most definately rule!
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