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"War is hell."- Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
Watched the movie Cold Mountain last night. Great movie, but the imagery of war was disturbing to watch. Reminded me of this quote from Sherman. Others who have been to war would undoubtedly agree. The gruesome photos posted by many on other Iraq threads would certainly support this statement.
Then I thought about several of the posts I've read on this board recently. People saying we should march on into Iran. People taking the decision to go to war in Iraq very lightly. Reminds me of the mother of a friend of mine growing up whose answer to every international problem she would see on the news was "just bomb 'em". I have neighbors who make the same statements and have seen the same mentality expressed many times on this board.
I guess my question is, where does this mentality come from? Are people just being flip about it or trying to sound like Rambo or some other macho movie character? I am certainly no pacifist and understand that war has been necessary at certain times in history. But I fail to understand why many people seem to take war so lightly, despite all the killing and maming of innocent people, loss of loved ones and the destruction of countless lives of those that survive. Someone please enlighten me.
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Last edited by Buseinspectrum; July 21st, 2004 at 06:13 AM.
Look at it this way Buse. People are mad. A group of terrorists flew planes into our two tallest buildings, killed 3,000 people and then laughed at our impotence. And this wasn't the first time those cowards had struck at us. They had blown up our embassies, troops barracks and ships and each time they got a little bolder because they didn't think we'd ever have the guts to strike back at them. Most reasonable Americans know it's only a matter of time until they start using car bombs and sucicide bombers like they are doing to the Jews, or blow up our trains and transportation systems like they did to the Spanish. It's either strike them first, strike them hard and take away their initiative or start living in fear and trepidation.
When it comes to protecting your family and loved ones from madmen, you had better be tough and willing to do anything or resign yourself to allowing those criminals to do as they please. Remember, there is no truce with this group. It is kill or be killed.
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“So I became a newspaperman. I hated to do it but I couldn’t find honest employment.” —Mark Twain
Because they have never been there. Totally removed and insulated. Not since 1812 has America defended the home soil against foreign invasion. To these weekend warriors and Sunshine Patriots it comes quite easy to send a voluntary army of their children off to some faraway land to extract the misplaced revenge they so desperately seek. 99.9 % of these folks have never even been in a schoolyard tussle , let alone a war zone. A thorough ass kicking on any level often brings about a change in perspective. Clinton made a comment earlier this year at the Dole/Clinton get together for charity. When asked if there was ever a chance for World peace Clinton responded, " only when old people tire of sending off their young people to die in a war".
One of my pet peeves is the utter disdain the American public has for the French mentality that war is not a good idea. 150 years of constant war in your own backyard brings on a different perspective and alternate solutions. Americans, who seem to have this aura of invulnerability, created by this "impenetrable buffer" don't comprehend the reality of War. Yet when the WTC bombing took place, the fear overwhelmed those same people in never before felt emotions. Payback is hell and as real as it gets.
PEACE
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In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." --Voltaire
Look at it this way Buse. People are mad. A group of terrorists flew planes into our two tallest buildings, killed 3,000 people and then laughed at our impotence. And this wasn't the first time those cowards had struck at us. They had blown up our embassies, troops barracks and ships and each time they got a little bolder because they didn't think we'd ever have the guts to strike back at them. Most reasonable Americans know it's only a matter of time until they start using car bombs and sucicide bombers like they are doing to the Jews, or blow up our trains and transportation systems like they did to the Spanish. It's either strike them first, strike them hard and take away their initiative or start living in fear and trepidation.
When it comes to protecting your family and loved ones from madmen, you had better be tough and willing to do anything or resign yourself to allowing those criminals to do as they please. Remember, there is no truce with this group. It is kill or be killed.
I would hope that the anger you are describing, which is justified in light of 911, wouldn't cause people to abandon their intellect and ability to reason and recognize that the horrors of war are not to treated lightly. But that's not the impression I get from many. I agree that action needs to be taken against the terrorists, like in Afganastan and anywhere else they can be identified. But our action needs to be measured and accurate and hopefully not involve us in prolonged ground wars.
Not when you have the biggest weopons and are not afraid to use them. We need a warlord to run our military for a few years then there will be no enemies left.
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Goal for 2008: Half as many penalties.
One of my pet peeves is the utter disdain the American public has for the French mentality that war is not a good idea. 150 years of constant war in your own backyard brings on a different perspective
Why dont the germans share the same perspective? Maybe its because France is tired of having their asses handed to them and needing people to bail them out time and time again.
And they have so much shame it makes them hate the people that bail them out.
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Goal for 2008: Half as many penalties.
There is your definitive answer. That mindset that SWD just shared with us is the answer to your question. That is 50 % of America in a nutshell, and just as I described. Living in fear and full of Bravado.
__________________
In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." --Voltaire
There is your definitive answer. That mindset that SWD just shared with us is the answer to your question. That is 50 % of America in a nutshell, and just as I described. Living in fear and full of Bravado.
No fear here buddy. You keep forgeting I put up so I dont have to shut up. I voluteered and hoped for something a little better than bosnia. But what can I say I didnt get lucky.
__________________
Goal for 2008: Half as many penalties.
There is your definitive answer. That mindset that SWD just shared with us is the answer to your question. That is 50 % of America in a nutshell, and just as I described. Living in fear and full of Bravado.
Every male member of my family has been in a war going back to WW I and up through SE Asia. Everyone of us was told that it was the right thing to do and our particular war was the war to end all wars. Well they lied.
Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace , but there never seems to be peace.
If they gave a war and nobody showed up, would there still be a war?
__________________
In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." --Voltaire
Every male member of my family has been in a war going back to WW I and up through SE Asia. Everyone of us was told that it was the right thing to do and our particular war was the war to end all wars. Well they lied.
Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace , but there never seems to be peace.
If they gave a war and nobody showed up, would there still be a war?
Me too. But no war is to end all wars until someone will finally kill every last one of their enemies. We arent willing to do that. Muslim fundametalists are.
__________________
Goal for 2008: Half as many penalties.
Every male member of my family has been in a war going back to WW I and up through SE Asia. Everyone of us was told that it was the right thing to do and our particular war was the war to end all wars. Well they lied.
Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace , but there never seems to be peace.
If they gave a war and nobody showed up, would there still be a war?
If someone started a war and only the aggressors fought who would win??
War is bad and I wish our world would be more like what you wanted it to be but we are a far cry from it. The only time I see war becoming obsolete is when the last Saddam Hussain and Adolf Hitler types are dead. I am sure some of you would throw Bush in here too.
Here... this is for you Wally.
Quote:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's views on war and Iraq conflict
The following is the English translation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's views on war and Iraq conflict shared with Buddhist devotees and others on the first day of the Great Prayer Festival
11 March 2003, in Dharamsala
The Iraq issue is becoming very critical now. War, or the kind of organized fighting, is something that came with the development of human civilization. It seems to have become part and parcel of human history or human temperament. At the same time, the world is changing dramatically. We have seen that we cannot solve human problems by fighting. Problems resulting from differences in opinion must be resolved through the gradual process of dialogue. Undoubtedly, wars produce victors and losers; but only temporarily. Victory or defeat resulting from wars cannot be long-lasting. Secondly, our world has become so interdependent that the defeat of one country must impact the rest of the word, or cause all of us to suffer losses either directly or indirectly.
Today, the world is so small and so interdependent that the concept of war has become anachronistic, an outmoded approach. As a rule, we always talk about reform and changes. Among the old traditions, there are many aspects that are either ill-suited to our present reality or are counterproductive due to their shortsightedness. These, we have consigned to the dustbin of history. War too should be relegated to the dustbin of history.
Unfortunately, although we are in the 21st century, we still have not been able to get rid of the habit of our older generations. I am talking about the belief or confidence that we can solve our problems with arms. It is because of this notion that the world continues to be dogged by all kinds of problems.
But what can we do? What can we do when big powers have already made up their minds? All we can do is to pray for a gradual end to the tradition of wars. Of course, the militaristic tradition may not end easily. But, let us think of this. If there were bloodshed, people in positions of power, or those who are responsible, will find safe places; they will escape the consequent hardship. They will find safety for themselves, one way or the other. But what about the poor people, the defenseless people, the children, the old and infirm. They are the ones who will have to bear the brunt of devastation. When weapons are fired, the result will be death and destruction. Weapons will not discriminate between the innocent and guilty. A missile, once fired, will show no respect to the innocent, poor, defenseless, or those worthy of compassion. Therefore, the real losers will be the poor and defenseless, ones who are completely innocent, and those who lead a hand-to-mouth existence.
On the positive side, we now have people volunteer medical care, aid, and other humanitarian assistance in war-torn regions. This is a heart-winning development of the modern age.
Okay, now, let us pray that there be no war at all, if possible. However, if a war does break out, let us pray that there be a minimum bloodshed and hardship. I don't know whether our prayers will be of any practical help. But this is all we can do for the moment.
Translated and issued by:
The Department of Information and International Relations
Central Tibetan Administration
Dharamsala INDIA
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We live in a world which is full of misery and ignorance, and the plain duty of each and all of us is to try to make the little corner he can influence somewhat less miserable and somewhat less ignorant than it was before he entered it.
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