For fuck’s sake, there is no such thing. Perhaps I should qualify that as my own personal opinion. Sure, why not. And you’re of course entitled to your own. But that does not mean I can’t be right.
I say war is bad… yet all too soon, the macho rhetoric rears its bulbous, balding head (I infer this from observing the majority of its proponents) – surely, there is greater virtue in a courageous death, than living in cowardice. Well. Courage is indeed more admirable than cowardice. But when courage is stirred in the service of dubious schemes cloaked behind big words like “justice”, “destiny”, “freedom”, as has been the case for far too many wasteful wars that men have fought, then this courage is but stupidity.
To put it mildly, sentimental bullshit is the magic ingredient most served when men of power seek to stir other men to take the bullet in building the former’s ambitions. No? Is war “just”? Is war “unavoidable”? Why conduct a little experiment: round up the generals, presidents and other assorted people’s representatives who are creaming their pants for a fight, and satisfy their express desire, put them in a ring (or a coliseum) and let them fight their own battles. Considering the amount of money saved from conducting full-scale warfare, we would be happy to chip in for swords, spears, even costumes and, surely, many many medals and ribbons without number.
If I might be so presumptuous to say this, we shall have more peace than we ever had. In most cases, bluster will pass into silence as courage fails. As people appear taller on TV than in real life, talk is braver too, in cases where no balls are need to back it. And in cases where people pick up arms, well, on the bright side (very, very bright), the blood spilling is contained.
As for members of the populace who buy the idea that war can solve problems (and I have heard enough such talk, on how we can “take out” country A or country B with ease considering what we have in our arsenal), that some notion of national dignity requires taking up arms, please consider how disruptive war can be. School will close. Yippy. Supermarket shelves will go empty. Oops. The economy breaks down – where to find money, and how much is it worth anyway? Oh, dear.
So much better, is the stability that peace affords, for us to work, make money, enjoy creature comforts, hang out friends, and die in our own beds.
2 comments:
Barter trading is very effective when an economy breaks down, just ask the Argentineans.
i'm not familiar with the case of the Argentineans, but i shudder to think of it. we can look at singapore's experience during the Japanese occupation of WW2 -- many will lack the smarts and steeliness to survive. Barter? well. at the very base, there is labour, and our bodies, to give.
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