“All your life you live so close to Truth that it becomes a permanent blur in the corner of your eye … And then, when something nudges it into outline, it’s like being ambushed by a grotesque.” ~ Tim Roth (playing Guildenstern in the brilliant film remake of Tom Stoppard’s brilliant 1990 play, “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead”)

Americans have known for years now that our government is up to little good. You have known it but have chosen to look the other way — by assuming that things would get better; by believing that a change in leadership or congressional majority (from Democrat to Republican, or Republican to Democrat) would solve your problems; by waiting for your “leaders” to show some real respect for your Constitution by showing some real mettle as men (and women).

And yet what have you gotten in return?
Dishonesty, manipulation, lies and corruption …

So what is this Truth that you have known from the start? What is this uncomfortable knowing that has been lurking on the edge of your awareness? What is this behemoth of a revelation that know rises before you, threatening to destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women & children (including thousands of American soldiers) in Syria & Iran?

It is the following: It is that American politicians have their own private agendas behind starting a war in Syria — agendas that will in no way serve any of the interests of the American people, AND it is that the United States of America has absolutely no business whatsoever in engaging a militarily action of any kind in that region of the world — period.

*”But what about the children being killed?”, you ask …

Answer: If our government was truly concerned about the welfare of children, they would long ago have stepped in to help the children subjected to conflicts in other regions of the world — they would have demanded an end to the civil war in the Sudan, they would have halted the genocide in Rwanda, they would have reached out to protesters in Turkey and Egypt & Brazil. Even more poignantly, if the American government truly cared about the welfare of children, American children would all have homes and clothes and food and health care and a good education.

*”But what about fighting for democracy?”, you ask …

Answer: If the American government was truly concerned about democracy, it would listen to the wishes of its own citizenry — with only 9% of Americans supporting an attack on Syria, and anti-war calls to Congress outnumbering pro-war calls by 500 to 1.

*”But what about fighting the terrorists?”, you ask …

Answer: If the American government was truly concerned about terrorism, they would go about neutralizing them a completely different way. Every terrorist killed by an American solider or an American drone actually creates three more terrorists that joyfully (and angrily) take his or her place. As understandable as the impulse is to “punish” our enemies, it is a completely counterproductive one — always has been, and always will be.

No, my Friends, your “leaders” have quite clearly lost their way, if not their Souls. I personally do not view any of them as “bad people”, and yet they are clearly making bad policy. And it is also clear that they are not going to suddenly wake up to reason — they are not going to suddenly snap out of their bloodthirsty daze and apologize for their most recent blunders.

No, if there is going to be real Justice — if there is going to be real Freedom — if there is going to be real Peace, if is YOU who will have to be the maker thereof.

“Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead”, aside from being a very entertaining film, is also a fascinating commentary on fate & free will. Some of you out there might even subscribe to Tim Roth’s character’s belief that life is a predestined journey over which we have no real control.

And maybe you are right …

AND YET, considering the fact that there is just as much evidence supporting the very real possibility that we have free will; that we live lives steeped in choice & empowerment & interconnected influence, wouldn’t it be wise to err on the side of believing that you can make a difference — and then wouldn’t it be wise to act accordingly?

Instead of witnessing the grave injustice of an attack on Syria and helplessly shrugging your shoulders while you watch online as the horrors of this latest crime against humanity unfold, wouldn’t you rather stand up for Justice? Wouldn’t you rather stand up for Freedom? Wouldn’t you rather stand up for Morality? Wouldn’t you rather stand up for Peace?

I believe that you would …

… and I believe that you will.

Filed under: The War on WAR by Scaughdt