I feel you, NWB. I myself also feel strongly that war is stupid, destructive and unnecessary. We don't live in a world where peace will be given a chance though. Which means that dialogue and debate remain.
For this reason, you can't put Iran/Iraq in the same sentence as Afghanistan. Liberal/pro-peace folks have to saddle up and admit that if there is such a thing as a war with preface (I won't go so far as to say "just war"), it's Afghanistan. The Taliban did indeed contribute greatly to events of the loss of American life and treasure in the last 3 decades. Imperialism, etc., I grant you. But the people who vote for the people who prosecute these wars aren't going to buy imperialism as an argument. Not saying you have to support the campaign in Afghanistan. Not saying that you can't criticize any war. But lumping them all together may make you feel better and make sense to you, but it actually further detracts from your goal of a peaceful world.
Sorry, I went to a liberal arts college. And I saw a lot of people with really good intentions shoot their causes in the foot because they couldn't interface with. . .well, people who didn't go to a liberal arts college.
Iraq, on the other hand, was a cluster. I'm still not sure how that bullshit happened.
I have a saying: The right talks to the masses like they are smart and hopes they are stupid. The left talks to the masses like they are stupid but hopes they are smart.
Yeah, I know. I don't generally bunch them together. I'm just curious as to why, when we have seen two protracted military campaigns that have been a terrible drain on human life, do some continue to entertain the idea of another?
I just think it would be refreshing to put the stick away for a minute and see what happens. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it would do us in. I really don't know.
One thing I will say, I don't think that we can dismiss our track record of imperialism as an argument against many of our actions because people don't buy into it. Maybe the concept isn't the first thing that comes to mind when we vote, but perhaps it should be.
But I'm with you. Afghanistan to me is murky and confusing. Iraq was a cluster. No doubt there.
maybe a thousand years from today - if we still exist - civilization has evolved to a state where we do not need war, where there is no fear nor hate, no anger nor injustice.....
i guess this has been a dream for many centuries....but dreams do come true....
4 comments:
I feel you, NWB. I myself also feel strongly that war is stupid, destructive and unnecessary. We don't live in a world where peace will be given a chance though. Which means that dialogue and debate remain.
For this reason, you can't put Iran/Iraq in the same sentence as Afghanistan. Liberal/pro-peace folks have to saddle up and admit that if there is such a thing as a war with preface (I won't go so far as to say "just war"), it's Afghanistan. The Taliban did indeed contribute greatly to events of the loss of American life and treasure in the last 3 decades. Imperialism, etc., I grant you. But the people who vote for the people who prosecute these wars aren't going to buy imperialism as an argument. Not saying you have to support the campaign in Afghanistan. Not saying that you can't criticize any war. But lumping them all together may make you feel better and make sense to you, but it actually further detracts from your goal of a peaceful world.
Sorry, I went to a liberal arts college. And I saw a lot of people with really good intentions shoot their causes in the foot because they couldn't interface with. . .well, people who didn't go to a liberal arts college.
Iraq, on the other hand, was a cluster. I'm still not sure how that bullshit happened.
I have a saying: The right talks to the masses like they are smart and hopes they are stupid. The left talks to the masses like they are stupid but hopes they are smart.
Yours in solidarity, SKS. END SOAPBOX.
Jimmy Carter's got a few good things to say about diplomacy. But yeah, sometimes you need that big stick.
Yeah, I know. I don't generally bunch them together. I'm just curious as to why, when we have seen two protracted military campaigns that have been a terrible drain on human life, do some continue to entertain the idea of another?
I just think it would be refreshing to put the stick away for a minute and see what happens. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it would do us in. I really don't know.
One thing I will say, I don't think that we can dismiss our track record of imperialism as an argument against many of our actions because people don't buy into it. Maybe the concept isn't the first thing that comes to mind when we vote, but perhaps it should be.
But I'm with you. Afghanistan to me is murky and confusing. Iraq was a cluster. No doubt there.
Blog on, brothers.
nwb
You are right! It is indeed stupid.
maybe a thousand years from today - if we still exist - civilization has evolved to a state where we do not need war, where there is no fear nor hate, no anger nor injustice.....
i guess this has been a dream for many centuries....but dreams do come true....
Post a Comment