Saturday, December 29, 2007

Politics and our Military

Many express their deep concern lately about our Army, Navy, & Marine troops being insufficient in numbers ~ and sometimes poorly supplied. An increasing related concern is the potential need for our military to be more active within the United States for emergency situations now being managed (?) by the several States, such as fires, natural disasters, and even border control.

For some reason, the concern stops there ... the thinking being that we have our hands full already trying to enlist individuals and maintaining our several wars around the world. The concern should not stop there ~~~~~ for some political reason, we maintain many, many highly trained military personnel around the world doing --- doing something for our nation that is not made clear by our leaders. Germany, Japan, and dozens of other countries have had the many benefits of greater or lesser numbers of United States service persons for many years. It would seem logical to draw heavily on these troops for service in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world where they are needed. Token numbers of troops could remain in present assignments.

After all, it is not likely that Germany, Japan, or a dozen other countries will attack us by land or sea and our "control" of our interests in these foreign countries will not be diminished given instant communications and attack capabilities we still possess.

A step of this kind may fill the gap ~ and postpone a military draft system that appears likely in the future.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

"Lies My Teacher Told Me"

It's a paperback that is worth the reading ~ for anyone who has ever fallen asleep in history class. . . a detailed, carefully accurate examination by James W. Loewen. A New Press Issue dated 2005, updating earlier in depth studies.

Beginning with pre-Columbian American history and ranging over characters and events as diverse as Reconstruction, Helen Keller, the first Thanksgiving, and the My Lai massacre, the author supplies the conflict, suspense, unresolved drama, and connectioin with current-day issues missing from textbook accounts. (The promo above is accurate!)

As you begin reading, remember Johannes Rau's statement that
"Patriotism can flourish only where racism and nationalism are given no quarter. We should
never mistake patriotism for nationalism. A patriot is one who loves his homeland. A
nationalist is one who scorns the homelands of others ...."

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Terror?

Is it really a war against Terror? That word is used to create fear ~ it is instead a result of someone or some groups doing something horrible, violent, or otherwise destructive. Should we not focus instead on specific individuals or groups that do these things and stop the fear game?

We've been told many times that terrorists are motivated by "evil". I read recently that this is not true because they are instead motivated - in the same way as the Christian murderers of abortion doctors ~ by what they believe righteous. They are faithfully pursuing what their religion tells them. That line of thought creates a new way to view the whole question. They are not psychotic, they are idealists who believe they are rational. It is not simply a warped personality, nor is it a possession by Satan. Instead they ~ and we ~ have been brought up from the cradle to have total and unquestioning faith. As Dawkins suggests, we/they believe their acts are good. These are extreme situations, of course. Or are they?

It is worth thinking about.