Guest Commentary: A Peace To End All Peace
A Peace To End All Peace: Imposing Peace as Destabilizing as Imposing War
CRUSADE:(1) Any of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers in the 11th-12th and 13th century to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims. (2) Any remedial enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm. (Webster’s 7th Collegiate Dictionary)
WAR ON TERRORISM”: A term used by the West to describe a military or quasi-military reaction to the thoughts and actions of radical elements of different religions and cultures. This view is acceptable to Western thinking. Among many Arabs, this war is known as the Holy War on Infidels. From an Arab point of view, zeal and enthusiasm are necessary to fight this War on Terrorism.
There is the War on Drugs, War on Crime, War on Poverty and though the War on Terrorism is not that much different, none of these wars will result in victory. To attach the word “war” to these sociological phenomena is pure bombast and chest pounding, something to boost the ego and consequently military and civilian deaths.
Today, a “Drugstore Cowboy” is leading the charge of this modern day Crusade, (using his own word), wearing spurs that jingle, jangle, and jingle, to the delight of his loyal followers. To inject the word “Crusade “ into the rhetoric after 9/11 was a surefire method to arouse the patriotism of soda fountain and gun crazed vigilante mentality, as well as landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln within sight of San Diego announcing “Mission Accomplished.” What a hero! A life size ”Crusader Rabbit”. As a naval veteran having served on an aircraft carrier, it was embarrassing to witness this bit of theatrics and pomposity. If the military draft was in force, as during Viet Nam, Korea, and World War Two, there would be much less enthusiasm for the Crusading spirit.
(Allow a moment to digress, while filling my fountain pen with caustic acid) I am convinced of one undertaking that would have a tremendous impact in reducing violence and bloodshed but also having the least chance of being implemented: abolish all religion and replace it with classical liberal learning. After that has been set in motion, declare a War on Ignorance and Superstition, and make a greater effort to win this war than was expended in the others. It should use the methods of the 16th Century Inquisition; where heresy would be valued and rewarded; where superstition would take you to the stake. In time, evolution would cleanse the specie. This is all possible, for the mentality of the Roman Church during the Inquisition is in force today: Pope Benedicts’ recent insult to Islam; Born again Bushes’ attack on Iraq; Tony Blair's adhesion to Bush policies; Australian government fascism following the lead of the US and the UK; the Israeli over-reaction bombing of civilians of Lebanon; etc. All implemented by deception and encouraged by tissue thin patriotism. The spirit of conquest remains at the same level as in the Dark and Middle Ages. We can do it; we can win this War on Ignorance and Superstition, just by reversing the goal of the end result. (End of digression.)
In the 20th century, Lin Yutang, a Chinese Philosopher was discussing Democracy. Not clearly recalling his thoughts, I will attempt to paraphrase, not wanting to take credit for what I thought was a profound statement. He said, in effect: the highest ideals of Democracy are manifest, fulfilled and accomplished by death. No one escapes deaths’ equality and universality; there are no privileges, options or class discrimination. When the grim reaper calls, everyone is treated with equal justice, and the highest ideals of Democracy.
Our "drugstore cowboy" spreads democracy with zeal and enthusiasm in regions where many people desire a theocracy. They are willing to face death fighting those imposing democracy upon them and willingly die for beliefs in their religion. In both situations, they find the end product equally desirable.
As I said earlier, none of these “wars” will achieve victory, but many are having imposed upon them… the “Democracy of Death.”
David Milosevich
September 27, 2006
CRUSADE:(1) Any of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers in the 11th-12th and 13th century to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims. (2) Any remedial enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm. (Webster’s 7th Collegiate Dictionary)
WAR ON TERRORISM”: A term used by the West to describe a military or quasi-military reaction to the thoughts and actions of radical elements of different religions and cultures. This view is acceptable to Western thinking. Among many Arabs, this war is known as the Holy War on Infidels. From an Arab point of view, zeal and enthusiasm are necessary to fight this War on Terrorism.
There is the War on Drugs, War on Crime, War on Poverty and though the War on Terrorism is not that much different, none of these wars will result in victory. To attach the word “war” to these sociological phenomena is pure bombast and chest pounding, something to boost the ego and consequently military and civilian deaths.
Today, a “Drugstore Cowboy” is leading the charge of this modern day Crusade, (using his own word), wearing spurs that jingle, jangle, and jingle, to the delight of his loyal followers. To inject the word “Crusade “ into the rhetoric after 9/11 was a surefire method to arouse the patriotism of soda fountain and gun crazed vigilante mentality, as well as landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln within sight of San Diego announcing “Mission Accomplished.” What a hero! A life size ”Crusader Rabbit”. As a naval veteran having served on an aircraft carrier, it was embarrassing to witness this bit of theatrics and pomposity. If the military draft was in force, as during Viet Nam, Korea, and World War Two, there would be much less enthusiasm for the Crusading spirit.
(Allow a moment to digress, while filling my fountain pen with caustic acid) I am convinced of one undertaking that would have a tremendous impact in reducing violence and bloodshed but also having the least chance of being implemented: abolish all religion and replace it with classical liberal learning. After that has been set in motion, declare a War on Ignorance and Superstition, and make a greater effort to win this war than was expended in the others. It should use the methods of the 16th Century Inquisition; where heresy would be valued and rewarded; where superstition would take you to the stake. In time, evolution would cleanse the specie. This is all possible, for the mentality of the Roman Church during the Inquisition is in force today: Pope Benedicts’ recent insult to Islam; Born again Bushes’ attack on Iraq; Tony Blair's adhesion to Bush policies; Australian government fascism following the lead of the US and the UK; the Israeli over-reaction bombing of civilians of Lebanon; etc. All implemented by deception and encouraged by tissue thin patriotism. The spirit of conquest remains at the same level as in the Dark and Middle Ages. We can do it; we can win this War on Ignorance and Superstition, just by reversing the goal of the end result. (End of digression.)
In the 20th century, Lin Yutang, a Chinese Philosopher was discussing Democracy. Not clearly recalling his thoughts, I will attempt to paraphrase, not wanting to take credit for what I thought was a profound statement. He said, in effect: the highest ideals of Democracy are manifest, fulfilled and accomplished by death. No one escapes deaths’ equality and universality; there are no privileges, options or class discrimination. When the grim reaper calls, everyone is treated with equal justice, and the highest ideals of Democracy.
Our "drugstore cowboy" spreads democracy with zeal and enthusiasm in regions where many people desire a theocracy. They are willing to face death fighting those imposing democracy upon them and willingly die for beliefs in their religion. In both situations, they find the end product equally desirable.
As I said earlier, none of these “wars” will achieve victory, but many are having imposed upon them… the “Democracy of Death.”
David Milosevich
September 27, 2006
posted by Jim Downey at 6:15 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home