I sometimes wonder what life would be like if all this energy and money spent on war - was instead spent on making the world a better place to live for all people, regardless of race, religion or sex.
But instead, for my whole life, the drum beats of war have never ever ceased. I'm tired of it. Are you?
Your page presents a very straight up analysis. Thanks! The capitalist system attracts the worst case human scenarios, and derives profits from mass murder and theft. Other than that, the system seems pretty Ok... Excuse me while I barf...
Exactly Doc! America, or should I say the United States of Israel, are in the business of War. Leach the US taxpayers of their hard-earned dollars and in this case extend the greater Israel project where they will. I find it extraordinary the majority of the western public don't see this criminality for what it is. The quality of media propaganda is so poor now.
I can visualize the room in which I passed the army draft physical and became available red meat for 'Nam. Sick of war? Bloody well right. Long fucking time.
Yes, I am tired of it. If all that money were spent making our lives better, we would have more music, more art, delicious organic food, we might be able to mitigate the climate catastrophe and we might be better set to deal with some of the problems that technology is creating.
"Give me the money that has been spent in war, and I will purchase every foot of land upon the globe. I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire that kings and queens would be proud of; I will build a school-house upon every valley over the whole habitable earth; I will supply that school house with a competent teacher; I will build an academy in every town, and endow it; a college in every state, and fill it with able Professors; I will crown every hill with a church consecrated to the promulgation of the gospel of peace; I will support in its pulpit an able teacher of righteousness, so that on every Sabbath morning the chime on one hill should answer to the chime on another, around the earth's broad circumference; and the voice of prayer and the song of praise should ascend like a universal holocaust to heaven. -Charles Sumner, c.1840
I'm terribly tired of the drum beats of war, too. It's been constant since the day I was born. I don't want to leave this plane of existence until I shut the war machine down forever!
Yes, we can dream, and we should--I've thought for decades that a missing thing is fiction based on that better world, because if people could picture a better future they'd be more motivated to work for it. So I wrote three novels set in three better futures---no luck with getting them published, apparently my fiction-writing skills are inadequate judging from the critiques I got from publishers. But I note what was the hardest part of dreaming up those plots--how do we get from here to there? I could picture those saner, more cooperative worlds being stable--once established, but how do we over come all the institutions that have been built up over the 40 years since the Powell Memo to cement control in the hands of the corporate elite, not to mention the institutions built up over hundreds of years of capitalism, or REALLY, the culture based on domination that is thousands of years old and underlies all of it? I think we are coming to a head, to a bottleneck, a point in time when there is an excellent chance of human extinction before the turn of the century, but if we survive it will be with profound change, and THAT is what gives me hope for the profound cultural change we need.
Hello Mary Wildfire. My granddaughter faced similar issues when attempting to publish a fantasy style children's book. I believe most publishers are simply over educated snobs, but...
I dunno, that sounds awful spiritual, not my thing. My version of calling the publishers over educated snobs is "they don't like my stuff because I refuse to put a lot of violence in it. You gotta have a lot of violence to get published in the US."
yes--I've wondered if there has been a day since I was born 70 years ago, that my country (USA) has not bombed someone. And I think the wondering you mention is a wholesome exercise. Just recently I had that thought about Cuba in particular. If the 75 or so years since its birth as an independent country had NOT been spent under constant siege by the monster to the north, what would it look like now, what would the world look given how much medical aid Cuba has given despite that siege...or would it have gotten corrupted if it were free?
Yes Mary Wildfire, I too wonder what Cuba would look like now, if it had half the chance to go ahead unhindered by the US. Its medical aid given to nations who were in need - even under an embargo - takes my breath away. Cuban doctors and healthcare workers were there tending to the needy after earthquakes, tsunamis and other disasters long after the cameras had gone away. Their morality and caring showed the best side of humanity.
That was why Cuba's socialist revolution was kept a secret and under siege for so long.
Here is the solution to the problem. Russia needs to start acting like a superpower and flex some muscle to prevent this war.
Russia and Iran need to announce that Russia has taken possession of the missing 400 kilos of highly enriched uranium that is still hidden away, probably in a protected corridor under Fordow mountain. These 400 kilos are the real reason that Trump has sent his armada to the area. Iran has already agreed to give up the 400 kilos in exchange for sanctions relief. In fact Iran had already agreed to this, prior to the attack on them last June. But Trump, with his hands tied by Israel, can’t offer sanctions relief because that would strengthen Iran, and end their regime change plan, which has always been the final goal.
Well, if Russia already has possession of the 400 kilos, there is no longer a valid legitimate reason to attack Iran.
Russia should immediately fly a Division of their airborne troops into Tehran airport, along with necessary anti aircraft systems to protect them. The Russians should then drive the 60 miles to the Southwest to Fordow mountain, and occupy the site. The US will not dare to attack Russia. The whole World will be alerted to this showdown.
By getting there first, Russia will prevent the US from attempting to snatch the 400 kilos with a surprise operation, which they are certainly planning right now. It must be assumed that the US and Israeli intelligence already know exactly where the 400 kilos is hidden.
Once Russia has possession of the 400 kilos, they should announce that it would remain right where it is until the US agrees to complete sanctions relief in exchange for the surrender of the enriched uranium. No sanctions relief -- no removal of the 400 kilos. Russia can then announce that their Division of Russian troops will remain in Iran until the US backs off with their armada from the region. Russia can easily out-wait the US with their expensive armada. Russia can then take the 400 kilos back to Russia for processing to a lower level, just like they did back in 2015. End of problem!
It’s becuase the same decrepit war criminals have for the past 30 odd years been allowed to get away with mass murder , inepitude, and callousness and face zero consequences
Yep, people who should never be listened to because it's all about pushing them up the ladder, earning prestige, making lotsa money, while not giving a damn how many bodies pile up.
Yea let's listen to those amazing self proclaimed foreign policy experts. They have done a smashing job since the 1950s. Every American military intervention hasn't led to massive blowback and the deaths of millions of people.
We almost must trust Israel because they always speak the truth. They are all soft and cuddly care bears who are in danger from the barbaric Muslims.
And . . . . "WAR IS A MERE CONTINUATION OF POLICY (POLITICS) BY OTHER MEANS."
- Carl Von Clausewitz
Somehow "the people" have been convinced that other "evil people" are always the cause and justification for war. Civilian politicians like Kissinger are the worst offenders. They go to war because they are not the ones making the sacrifices and doing the dying. The political class always comes out on top in the end.
once again, through expensive military intervention, the United States will take a bad situation, and make it several orders of magnitude worse. Our specialty.
This war may be completely different. In a different sense though. This time the enemy is formidable compared to previous targets. This time repercussions may reach closer to home than imagined. Irn is strong and wants to stay strong and is trying to negotiate really hard for peace. But if the unholy alliance of warmongers causes enough damage I can’t imagine it not retaliating with full force. It’s shown remarkable restraint so far and that may have given the wrong impression to some. May God have mercy.
"there are people from the targeted country who say they don’t like their government". So who is going to bomb the US Empire? There are people in the US who say they don't like their government. Who will save them?
Chris Hedges appeared on a podcast of Briahana Joy Gray. Very interesting thoughts on the tipping point of no return. The two of them I thought would disagree on being able to use voting to change our path. Both instead talked of General Strikes and supporting the most important Unions, Teachers,Nurses, and Dock Workers. Chris seems to think we have until the elections or the Brown Shirts will prevent elections with intimidation.
In a parallel universe there’s a small blue planet where oil was never discovered and they use the energy from their star - there are no wars because weapons are not allowed. Nobody goes hungry. Resources are fairly distributed. They enjoy exploring their planet and meeting new people to learn about the fascinating cultures of others.
The people on your planet could have religions in which people try to communicate with the mysterious Life Force, etc,. and talk about these attempts, and have schools where they practice meditation and mushrooms and yoga and such, but no one formulates Creeds That Everyone Must Obey, they don't make a single God in their own image--specifically the image of a male, emotionally underdeveloped man--and it's all lighthearted and voluntary.
Agree with most of that Mary, also, ‘Worship’ is a totally made up human folly and on worlds where exploring the universe in its entirety is the ‘religion’ would be seen as primitive.
I sometimes wonder what life would be like if all this energy and money spent on war - was instead spent on making the world a better place to live for all people, regardless of race, religion or sex.
But instead, for my whole life, the drum beats of war have never ever ceased. I'm tired of it. Are you?
“Either the world becomes a garden or it becomes a battlefield." - Josef Heringer - (June 25, 1941 - )
I'm sick of it too. Been sick of it for over 60 years. Best regards.
War is oxygen for the American economy, i.e. “Capitalism”
Time to "smother the fire" of capitalism then, right?
(The System Should Collapse https://therevolutioncontinues.substack.com/p/the-system-deserves-to-collapse)
Your page presents a very straight up analysis. Thanks! The capitalist system attracts the worst case human scenarios, and derives profits from mass murder and theft. Other than that, the system seems pretty Ok... Excuse me while I barf...
Exactly Doc! America, or should I say the United States of Israel, are in the business of War. Leach the US taxpayers of their hard-earned dollars and in this case extend the greater Israel project where they will. I find it extraordinary the majority of the western public don't see this criminality for what it is. The quality of media propaganda is so poor now.
I can visualize the room in which I passed the army draft physical and became available red meat for 'Nam. Sick of war? Bloody well right. Long fucking time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaxAZYQB44o
So you think your schooling's phony
I guess it's hard not to agree
You say it all depends on money
And who is in your family tree
Right (right), you're bloody well right
You got a bloody right to say
Supertramp, vg band.
Like a ship without an anchor
Like a slave without a chain
Just the thought of those sweet ladies
Sends a shiver through my veins
Goodbye stranger, it's been nice
Hope you find your paradise
Tried to see your point of view
Hope your dreams will all come true
Another great track.
"Goodbye Stranger", sort of an anthem for rakes.
With which the world is currently overflowing and in stark awareness of. (But to what end?)
More societal breakdown, chaos, lack of responsibility, disillusionment, etc to facilitate "their" imposition of a New World Order, I suppose.
Yes, I am tired of it. If all that money were spent making our lives better, we would have more music, more art, delicious organic food, we might be able to mitigate the climate catastrophe and we might be better set to deal with some of the problems that technology is creating.
"Give me the money that has been spent in war, and I will purchase every foot of land upon the globe. I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire that kings and queens would be proud of; I will build a school-house upon every valley over the whole habitable earth; I will supply that school house with a competent teacher; I will build an academy in every town, and endow it; a college in every state, and fill it with able Professors; I will crown every hill with a church consecrated to the promulgation of the gospel of peace; I will support in its pulpit an able teacher of righteousness, so that on every Sabbath morning the chime on one hill should answer to the chime on another, around the earth's broad circumference; and the voice of prayer and the song of praise should ascend like a universal holocaust to heaven. -Charles Sumner, c.1840
I’m so tired of it. So, so tired. My son is 10 and I truly weep for the world he will inherit.
I'm terribly tired of the drum beats of war, too. It's been constant since the day I was born. I don't want to leave this plane of existence until I shut the war machine down forever!
Yes, jamenta, I am not only tired but sick of it. Maybe that is why Caitlin resorted to sarcasm...
Anyway we can all dream of a better world.
Yes, we can dream, and we should--I've thought for decades that a missing thing is fiction based on that better world, because if people could picture a better future they'd be more motivated to work for it. So I wrote three novels set in three better futures---no luck with getting them published, apparently my fiction-writing skills are inadequate judging from the critiques I got from publishers. But I note what was the hardest part of dreaming up those plots--how do we get from here to there? I could picture those saner, more cooperative worlds being stable--once established, but how do we over come all the institutions that have been built up over the 40 years since the Powell Memo to cement control in the hands of the corporate elite, not to mention the institutions built up over hundreds of years of capitalism, or REALLY, the culture based on domination that is thousands of years old and underlies all of it? I think we are coming to a head, to a bottleneck, a point in time when there is an excellent chance of human extinction before the turn of the century, but if we survive it will be with profound change, and THAT is what gives me hope for the profound cultural change we need.
Mary Wildfire, Thank you for sharing your kind thoughts and creative spirit with me. My best wishes that one day you will get published.
Hello Mary Wildfire. My granddaughter faced similar issues when attempting to publish a fantasy style children's book. I believe most publishers are simply over educated snobs, but...
Perhaps you would enjoy themes presented in James Redfield's "Celestine Prophecy". I read it years ago. Very insightful - possibly helpful. >>> https://www.amazon.com/Celestine-Prophecy-Adventure-James-Redfield/dp/0446671002 Best regards.
I dunno, that sounds awful spiritual, not my thing. My version of calling the publishers over educated snobs is "they don't like my stuff because I refuse to put a lot of violence in it. You gotta have a lot of violence to get published in the US."
Yes the sarcasm was brilliant.
yes--I've wondered if there has been a day since I was born 70 years ago, that my country (USA) has not bombed someone. And I think the wondering you mention is a wholesome exercise. Just recently I had that thought about Cuba in particular. If the 75 or so years since its birth as an independent country had NOT been spent under constant siege by the monster to the north, what would it look like now, what would the world look given how much medical aid Cuba has given despite that siege...or would it have gotten corrupted if it were free?
Yes Mary Wildfire, I too wonder what Cuba would look like now, if it had half the chance to go ahead unhindered by the US. Its medical aid given to nations who were in need - even under an embargo - takes my breath away. Cuban doctors and healthcare workers were there tending to the needy after earthquakes, tsunamis and other disasters long after the cameras had gone away. Their morality and caring showed the best side of humanity.
That was why Cuba's socialist revolution was kept a secret and under siege for so long.
Viva Cuba!
Indeed I am Jamenta.
Here is the solution to the problem. Russia needs to start acting like a superpower and flex some muscle to prevent this war.
Russia and Iran need to announce that Russia has taken possession of the missing 400 kilos of highly enriched uranium that is still hidden away, probably in a protected corridor under Fordow mountain. These 400 kilos are the real reason that Trump has sent his armada to the area. Iran has already agreed to give up the 400 kilos in exchange for sanctions relief. In fact Iran had already agreed to this, prior to the attack on them last June. But Trump, with his hands tied by Israel, can’t offer sanctions relief because that would strengthen Iran, and end their regime change plan, which has always been the final goal.
Well, if Russia already has possession of the 400 kilos, there is no longer a valid legitimate reason to attack Iran.
Russia should immediately fly a Division of their airborne troops into Tehran airport, along with necessary anti aircraft systems to protect them. The Russians should then drive the 60 miles to the Southwest to Fordow mountain, and occupy the site. The US will not dare to attack Russia. The whole World will be alerted to this showdown.
By getting there first, Russia will prevent the US from attempting to snatch the 400 kilos with a surprise operation, which they are certainly planning right now. It must be assumed that the US and Israeli intelligence already know exactly where the 400 kilos is hidden.
Once Russia has possession of the 400 kilos, they should announce that it would remain right where it is until the US agrees to complete sanctions relief in exchange for the surrender of the enriched uranium. No sanctions relief -- no removal of the 400 kilos. Russia can then announce that their Division of Russian troops will remain in Iran until the US backs off with their armada from the region. Russia can easily out-wait the US with their expensive armada. Russia can then take the 400 kilos back to Russia for processing to a lower level, just like they did back in 2015. End of problem!
It’s becuase the same decrepit war criminals have for the past 30 odd years been allowed to get away with mass murder , inepitude, and callousness and face zero consequences
You mean the last 80 years. Maybe 240.
True
Yep, people who should never be listened to because it's all about pushing them up the ladder, earning prestige, making lotsa money, while not giving a damn how many bodies pile up.
Just slick talking hustlers , the American way, why Epstein landed where he did first years
Yup, it works.
Yea let's listen to those amazing self proclaimed foreign policy experts. They have done a smashing job since the 1950s. Every American military intervention hasn't led to massive blowback and the deaths of millions of people.
We almost must trust Israel because they always speak the truth. They are all soft and cuddly care bears who are in danger from the barbaric Muslims.
Quote from a (thankfully deceased) foreign policy expert:
“Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.”
- Heinz Alfred Kissinger - (May 27, 1923 – November 29, 2023)
And . . . . "WAR IS A MERE CONTINUATION OF POLICY (POLITICS) BY OTHER MEANS."
- Carl Von Clausewitz
Somehow "the people" have been convinced that other "evil people" are always the cause and justification for war. Civilian politicians like Kissinger are the worst offenders. They go to war because they are not the ones making the sacrifices and doing the dying. The political class always comes out on top in the end.
Things worked out exactly as they intended.
Note that this is not the same as what they tell the peons.
Why does this sound sooooo familiar?
once again, through expensive military intervention, the United States will take a bad situation, and make it several orders of magnitude worse. Our specialty.
Issrhelli fascists hate Arabs and Christians. The most racist nation on earth. Fuck off Zionist propagandist fascists
They're pretty fucked in the head alright. They've cemented their reputation as monsters for a VERY long time to come.
Iran had better get some nukes asap. It’s the only way to make the US fuck off for good.
Fuck, you preempted me. All I was gonna say, "It's totally not about the Jews this time."
Caitlin, You have surpassed every meaning of sarcasm! You are a satirist! Your use of irony to mock and ridicule is perfect.
You made my day!
That closing line is hilarious! :D
How many (rehashed) War Propaganda does it take to wake people up?
This war may be completely different. In a different sense though. This time the enemy is formidable compared to previous targets. This time repercussions may reach closer to home than imagined. Irn is strong and wants to stay strong and is trying to negotiate really hard for peace. But if the unholy alliance of warmongers causes enough damage I can’t imagine it not retaliating with full force. It’s shown remarkable restraint so far and that may have given the wrong impression to some. May God have mercy.
"there are people from the targeted country who say they don’t like their government". So who is going to bomb the US Empire? There are people in the US who say they don't like their government. Who will save them?
I think no one is coming to save us--we'll have to save ourselves, taking out cues from the heroes of Minneapolis!
aw gee, after the US has saved so many, you would think someone might come along
Chris Hedges appeared on a podcast of Briahana Joy Gray. Very interesting thoughts on the tipping point of no return. The two of them I thought would disagree on being able to use voting to change our path. Both instead talked of General Strikes and supporting the most important Unions, Teachers,Nurses, and Dock Workers. Chris seems to think we have until the elections or the Brown Shirts will prevent elections with intimidation.
Its the truth, regardless of the source. Military personnel are paid a pittance. They get used up and then sent off to the VA horror show hospitals.
How many times can a war be postponed before it becomes failed brinkmanship?
In a parallel universe there’s a small blue planet where oil was never discovered and they use the energy from their star - there are no wars because weapons are not allowed. Nobody goes hungry. Resources are fairly distributed. They enjoy exploring their planet and meeting new people to learn about the fascinating cultures of others.
I’m not sure if they have religions though.
The people on your planet could have religions in which people try to communicate with the mysterious Life Force, etc,. and talk about these attempts, and have schools where they practice meditation and mushrooms and yoga and such, but no one formulates Creeds That Everyone Must Obey, they don't make a single God in their own image--specifically the image of a male, emotionally underdeveloped man--and it's all lighthearted and voluntary.
Agree with most of that Mary, also, ‘Worship’ is a totally made up human folly and on worlds where exploring the universe in its entirety is the ‘religion’ would be seen as primitive.