Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
The warrior is the war
Great article, Mickey. That needs to be said more often.
Being anti-war and supporting the troops, is like being anti-capital punishment but applauding the executioner. The simple fact is: if you support the troops, you support the war. Too many have been playing around with semantics. It is, what it is. You can’t have it both ways. And yes, they are war criminals - as are all of us who support the troops or any other part of the war machine.Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 11/06 at 07:53 PMHoly horsefeathers...Drew Barrymore, Lionel Hampton, naval bases in Somalia, shot to hell with one click of the mouse.
Just in the past few hours, I was experiencing a feeling I had while in the military...I thought of my everyday experiences, the apathy I see, the lack of concern, caring...I don’t want to be here. This was the overwhelming feeling I had while walking down the hangar bay of an aircraft carrier in 1969, while in the war zone...[everyplace is a war zone today]...I don’t want to be here...I was temporarily delusional, I didn’t believe it was real, I felt I was just here 7 months ago, now I’m back here again...this is a nightmare I will awaken from.
I did not carry a rifle in the jungles, it was all I could do to cope being in a bomber squadron aboard the USS Shithouse! The surrealism of being at war, seeing the bombs, the missiles, all the loud aircraft, the chaos, the stupidity of the military but not seeing anything else but beautiful ocean aside from the military.
People said I was lucky having the safety of being at seeing on a carrier. I never felt lucky...I always felt oppressed and depressed...a gross waste of humanity.
I just read at least some North American Natives, probably all, did not have words that represented ‘I’, the single individual, because Native Cultures had such a strong sense of community, We, Us. How we destroy knowledge and how we rationalize our isolation, deny our fear and celebrate the individual going through life living a complete lie, the antithesis of harmonious relations with all the Natural world.
So how do we say No in unison so there is no fear of standing alone, 1 not making an effective difference?
Posted by joe of maine on from 11/06 at 08:16 PMExcellent article - I agree that it needs to be said more often and by many more. You have been one of the few to take on the reverence afforded the “warriors”
Posted by sdh on from 11/06 at 09:48 PMthe discussion surrounding the troops is more or less the same here.
and and btw… mickey and RMJ - someone else has jumped in as an opponent for you in your run for prez…
Posted by michael on from scotland 11/07 at 05:32 AMGood morning Mickey, joe, sdh, michael, and all.
Another point that is seldom made is that the troops are INCREASING the danger to us. They do that every time they drop a bomb or fire a weapon. It’s Blowback. Anyone who endangers the general population of their own country is a traitor.Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 11/07 at 09:14 AMI am against that one holocaust. But I support the Nazi soldiers! Those brave boys. They’re only 18 and can’t think for themselves. They need the money. They need a job! Support the troops!
Posted by KF on from San Diego, CA 11/07 at 11:41 AMI don’t support the troops, either, and aside from the overt lies that MZ describes, RMJ hit the nail on the head: you can’t have it both ways. Examples of this:
- Whining about being broke and starved for equipment while the military budget is popping its plus-sized seams (first experienced during Clinton I) and being in uniform is the closest thing to socialism in the US of A.
- Bitching about low public opinion while there has been no antiwar dissent of any great substance in the mass media for years. However, when public opinion is unquestionably low (outside corporate-owned forums) why isn’t it reflected in policy?
- Don’t people who do stuff strictly for economic reasons tend to downplay it? “Sure, I play piano in a whorehouse ‘cause I have to. But don’t forget to turn out for the parade.”
- Common sense and morality aren’t optional (though this applies across American society, most hypocrites aren’t armed with automatic weapons and bombers).Joe, the I/we perception is key, and another reason why indigenous peoples are exterminated for their own good. It’s bad for marketing.
Posted by Zen Prole on from Urth 11/07 at 12:29 PMThe warkplace and our position to this corrupt hierarchy called america and its authorities...as long as the majority of people acknowledge this unnatural relationship between people...the throat we need to go for are the top guns, the politicians and ceo’s and then the next in line who prop up their seniors. This needs to be exposed vividly.
I just read the local Maine Peace and Justice email list...Jesus H. Christ...It’s like going 400 years back in time! These people think there is still something good about this political system...beg your representative long enough and he will cave in, they think. This has been going on for 250 years...look at where the hell we’re at...in the depths of eternal social decay.
Posted by joe of maine on from 11/07 at 12:48 PMI mentioned the Maine Peace and Justice email community. An ongoing discussion about democracy. I will share the abbreviated response that I was NOT going to submit. Feel free to correct me and add to.
I know no one on list site needs to read this. And it’s more of the same.
Recently there has been a discussion about american politics and democracy in america. I refrained from discussing this matter, however, I also have been reading how the term ‘war criminal’ is being defined these days and this evoked an interest to respond to those who think our political system can be corrected, for lack of a better word.
The first thing I will say is forget about correcting a page of history that needed turned 500 years ago. The constitution was written to serve the wealthy who thought exploited every damn thing on this earth was a noble deed and us nice Christians had god’s will and blessings on our side and ‘God’s’ will to have absolutely no regard for any life or life support system. Forget about God’s as a justification for actions...find yourself!
When the idea of ‘Change’ is considered or discussed, it involves, it effects hundreds of millions of people. The system is no longer local, manageable and sane. We all fall under this deadly, corrupt hierarchy which is not how humans are supposed to relate to each other and the rest of the natural world that WE are only one part of and are supposed to live in a Balanced, Harmonious system.
Back to who is a war criminal...well, by some definitions, every damn one of us is a war criminal by helping to prop up this system that wants to control and use every damn thing on this planet. The War Criminals in washington and the representatives who prop them up ARE NOT going to come to some kind of grand Consciousness shift and especially if their brain and body are the equivalent of marching in place in quick sand, which is what we have been doing in America for over 250 years. We have left a path of death and suffering everywhere this corrupt hierarchy extends itself and right in our home towns!
In America we have normalized such a degree of violence, horror, insanity, incoherence, then we extend this to other countries like large scale, breaking, entering, murdering, theft and start the same cycles of insanity, label it democracy, start the propaganda machines, the brainwashing and violence in its many forms.
I repeat, what we have normalized, lived by and even boast of is a large scale atrocity. Some people for psychological reasons might not be able to accept the culture we have lived in, the denial, the rationalizations, etc. I suggest taking a break, look around, look at people’s faces, talk to people needing healthcare, food, the underprivileged, the class discrimination, the hatred, the ruthless competition, our priorities, our lack of ethics and moral behavior...as a collective society. Look very hard into why someone wants to ‘represent the people’, ask if they have any mature sense of responsibility, watch out for the diversions, the politician who seduces you with what you want to hear...don’t allow any of this to stop you from thinking of a future without what we have had for hundreds of years. All the world’s man-made religions have also been an obstacle to social progress. You might look at what preceded the Church/State/Military, the corrupt trinity given us by the authorities...feel yourself ask why we don’t understand community and yet honor the individual for living a life of Lies.
This is as far as I taking this comment. Don’t give energy, time to that which will starve you of your humanity as it has done for centuries. Think of how life can be, imagine and make healthy thoughts a reality...this is difficult but marching in place in quick sand will only enable and perpetuate this warring culture that does not care one damn about anything that is real.
Posted by joe of maine on from 11/07 at 01:34 PMHello Expendables (and newcomers)...from chilly sunny NYC. Your excellent commentary above has once again made my original post more complete. Thanks, all…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/07 at 03:33 PMjoe...you might not want to be involved in politics, but politics wants to be involved in you. Ignoring a monster will not make it go away. Looking inward while children are being slaughtered might not be the best way. You say we have to go after the top guns - I agree, but how? It seems to me it all comes back to the voters. The voters ALWAYS get what they vote for. 90%+ vote for dems and repubs and then bitch and moan till the next election when they go and repeat the previous mistake in the voting booth.
Zen...great comment. I like the reference to the piano player - reminds me of: I had to do it because I needed a job - I needed the money - The dog ate my homework - I’m late ‘cause my watch stopped - I had a flat tire - My mother didn’t love me enough - The kids on the playground bullied me.........
As my father used to say, “It’s time to s#*t or get off the pot.” He also used to say, “...come the Revolution things will get better...”
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 11/07 at 03:38 PMFor Mickey...."NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York jazz musician and martial arts instructor was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday for agreeing to help train al Qaeda fighters in hand-to-hand combat.
Tarik Shah, 44, a Muslim born and raised in New York, received the maximum sentence in Manhattan federal court..............”
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 11/07 at 03:46 PMRMJ...a vote has done nothing, part of what I said IS looking inward...few know who they are, what they feel, what they, think...automatons, obeying...come the revolution...I’ve been waiting for 60 years...when is it coming...who will start it...be careful here...not all revolutions are made the same and started for the Right reasons...by the appropriate group...until every individual changes how they think...we will only repeat the same sludge system...minds need to be changed about MANY things...but no one can change their mind if they aren’t even aware change is needed or possible. Too Large...Small, manageable...is possible, more quickly...Are we as ready for change as we would like to think...just how strong is our mind sets, our conditioning, our reverting to same thinking and reactions, attitudes?
Posted by joe of maine on from 11/07 at 04:20 PMjoe...you say, “a vote has done nothing...” I don’t agree. Voting has put tyrants and killers in power. Voters have a choice and could have put others in office but have chosen killers instead.
I don’t agree with the generalization that everyone needs to change the way they think - some do, and some don’t need change. Why do you say that everyone needs to change the way they think??? I have known a lot of people who didn’t need to change the way that they think. If you have the magic formula - teach us what we don’t know. Tell us specifically what changes we must make in the way that we think. Respectfully, I have to say that Gurus have been saying things like that for centuries - follow me, do as I say, and you will have the secret to life.
It would be nice if no government was needed. We have not evolved that far yet. We live in a world that includes drunk drivers, rapists, killers, child abusers, elder abusers, etc. Anytime there is more than one person in a room, there is a pecking order. One of the functions of government is to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 11/07 at 05:06 PMPS joe...That was the thinking behind the concept of Original Sin - we are all born defective and need to change in order to be saved. I don’t agree.
I do agree that change is needed - change in people and change in systems but I think that too many are looking inward when we should be looking outward at the victims of the wars.Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 11/07 at 05:18 PMRMJ...First, I don’t think a vote has meant anything or put anyone into office...look at our choices on the national level...I think they are all killers and will prove to be so as our wonderful presidents and vice-presidents have shown and told us, they will protect the american way...THEIR lifestyle, not OURS. I don’t want their lifestyle. What people really have a chance to run for president...and get elected? Too large, too much chaos and the people who create choas speak of Anarchy as something undesirable...how conveniently they throw words, like their bread crumbs to the people.
I am not a guru and a real guru does not allow followers...I don’t know who needs to change except for the most part of 300 million people and Myself. Because I’m ready for radical social change does not mean I am content with ‘where I’m at’, and that I am an example, by Being for others.
Local voting Might make a difference, I question that based who wants to run and why they want to run...subjectivity, very personal agendas????
So why does a politician have an allegiance to corporations...is it only the money. Have these people become so myopic, they exist for making only money...I think some are in the category.
I think for the most part these people who state they want to represent us are completely freaking nut and have no idea what they are doing and practice the same line of thinking that has got us into this mess for 500 years of our violent history. Why don’t more soldiers say, screw this and turn their rifles on their officers or why don’t they simply say, “I’m not marching forward again, I am not interested in this charade of simply following orders that accomplishes nothing but hurt and death”.
Do I have an answer for why 100,000 troops obey, at least most of the time...the protocol, the procedure, text on paper, static...humans are not static. I cannot answer for 100,000 or more people...perhaps they can find an answer inside themselves...? When I was in the military, I followed orders, procedure because their were goon marines who were guards of the brig...these androids looked mean, and stories were told...we were all terrorized and it worked for the leader of the terrorists.
When I approached a gang in my teen years...I felt a hell of a lot more comfortable when others were with me...I still didn’t like the potential of what would happen. So who are our leaders and who wants to be a leader and for what reason...I don’t want leaders or followers.
And finally, If I did have answers, if I had verifiable answers to complex Personal and Social questions or problems...I would probably be shot on suspicion of who I am...I must different, that can’t be allowed! Not too unlike the biblical story shoved down our throats forever and 8 hours.
I have shared some books with some people...suspicion usually is aroused...I don’t share books anymore unless I hear certain things. I don’t engage with too many people these days in the flesh without certain clues and cues...sort of a comfort zone but also because I don’t need any more crap in my consciousness than I already have.
And I love you RMJ.Posted by joe of maine on from 11/07 at 05:28 PMNews Flash......
The government announced today it is changing the national symbol to a CONDOM because it more accurately reflects the governments political stance. A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks, and gives you a sense of security while you’re being screwed.
It would be funnier if it wasnt so damn accurate.
things here are ok.
Hi to all.
francesPosted by Frances on from bc 11/07 at 05:31 PMHello Frances...that is funny and just earlier, today, I found an unused condom, still in its package, in the parking lot. My personal life being what it is, and isn’t, I had no need for it so I threw it in the trash!
Posted by joe of maine on from 11/07 at 05:41 PMHi Frances...and everyone else, too.
FYI: New post is up.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/08 at 03:37 PM
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