"... the influential classes, and those who take upon themselves to be leaders of the people, are fully liable to all passionate error that has ever characterized the maddest mob."
Nathanial Hawthorne
About a year ago during that skirmish going on over in Libya, a co-worker mentioned how we should just go over there, bomb them back to the stone ages and pillage the oil. At which point another gentlemen who rarely gets involved in such conversations asked the most simplest of questions; "Have you ever seen a bomb? Have you ever seen the damage that it brings?" It is a simple question, one that most of the people reading this blog would most likely answer no... Yet, this fellow had indeed seen the damage of war first hand. Having grown up in Grenada he was subjected to an awful scene of warfare where he saw many of his family and friens die in what we now like to call "Collateral Damage".
It is a cute term is it not? Very safe, very politically correct when you are being interviewed on television or making a statement. Two people are mostly known for using the term. The first, and the most popular would be General "Storming" Norman Schwarzkopf. After the first war in the gulf he used the term as an excuse when asked to justify the killing of innocent lives during the battles.
I could not imagine a loved one of mine being reduced to the term "Collateral Damage"! I am a huge supporter of the troops and my prayers are with them but if you have been reading this post, then you are well aware that I am against any unnecessary military action. Considering that most wars are either fought over religion or money, NO ONE ever truly wins. You see it all starts out the same, everyone is gung-ho and everyone is a patriot at the onset of the war. Everyone rushes out to buy the yellow ribbons and put out Old Glory to wave in the wind. They stay like that until the first young American boys and girls start coming back home in flag draped coffins. Then the tune starts to change.
Support for the war is dropping faster than you can count the number of young starlets getting photograhed coming out of a limo without undies! (... an about that, how come when they do it, everyone laughs but when the old guy who spends too much time at the playground even though he does not have any grandchildren shows his junk... he's a pervert?) A recent report shows that support for the war in Afghanistan has reached a new low, with only 27% of Americans say that they continue to back the effort.When was the last time you even saw one of those ribbons that weren't faded? Most have already been replaced with some other cause; autism awareness, transvestite awareness, etc...
It is time to bring our soldiers home. This war has lasted long enough and too many innocent people have perished and too many soldiers have given the greatest sacrifice. War is draining, at first everyone loves to rush to the television to see what s**t we blew up that day and which area is now in our control. But as time passes, so does interest, and as the death toll of America's sons and daughters increases... so does anger.
By the way, the other guy who is famous for the term "Collateral Damage"... Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City terrorist.
Is it hot in here or am I Crazy?
"Call it peace or call it treason,
call it love or call it reason
but I ain't marching anymore."
Phil Ochs
There is a complete disconnect between the United States public and the military. There is zero emotional connection. As well as zero inconveniences for the American public during war time. The general public has no way to relate in any way to whats going on so put back on dancing with stars and grab a Big Mac. I too also respect the soldiers who fought for their country but its getting harder and harder to keep that respect when as the leader of the world we do not need to be involved in so many conflicts. Maybe one day the people will really have a choice... yea right.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there was such a disconnect in WW2 between the general American Public & the actual War.
ReplyDeleteWe have obviously been there too long but who am I to judge what's too long and what's just right?
It's not my son or daughter coming home in box ... That's the real bottom line problem is that for whatever reason weather you want to admit it or not it simply doesn't effect a guy like me the same as it does someone that actually loses a loved one.
It's borderline embarrassing.
Their are Women & Men dodging bullets & searching for a victory with no end in sight meanwhile I'm sitting here dodging work & searching for breakfast. It's quite a difference.
I do hope this ends & they come home soon.
War is a very ugly thing.