As anyone who has studied the historical record already knows, the war-mongering exploits of nation-states (especially the nation-state known as the United States of America) have — almost without exception — nothing at all to do with “enhancing security” or “preventing terrorism” or “protecting democracy” or “ preserving freedom.”  Indeed, it has been proven time & time & time again that overthrowing democratically elected governments never leads to increased stability or protected liberties, that attacking enemies never fully defeats them (and actually ultimately strengthens them), that killing terrorists actually intensifies terrorism, and that bombing enemy outposts only inspires more powerful strongholds to quietly take their place.  In essence, violence always begets violence and war always begets war – it always has, and it always will.

 

So with this Truth in mind, we must then ask ourselves the question:  what the Hell are our political leaders doing?  Why are they continuing to pursue war as a political option when they know damn well that war never accomplishes any of its stated objectives?  After all, most of them (with a few noted exceptions) are clearly not idiots, and as such must know that their saber-rattling words of aggression and saber-swathing attacks of violence have only made matters worse in the past, and thus that similar tactics will only make matters even more horrifying in the future … Of course, after asking this question myself, it dawned on me (just as it must now be dawning on many of you) that our leaders aren’t stupid or incompetent at all.  It dawned on me that war is what they are creating and war is what they are perpetuating because war is exactly what they want.  In truth, politicians are paid handsomely to make war by the corporations that shamelessly profit from the spoils thereof.  International oligarchies have seized control of global politics, my Friends, and war is the way international oligarchies survive and thrive.  War is what those oligarchies and their minions want, and thus war is what they will indeed get – and there is very little any of us can do to stop them.

 

That having all been said, matters are not completely hopeless and we are anything but completely helpless.  For even though oligarchies and their political puppets pay heed to their own objectives and the profits that are won thereby, we can each still do our part to combat their vile ways and at least partially hinder their evil intentions.  Individually we can do little to thwart their wickedness, it is true, and yet every action taken for Peace does make the world that much more Peace-full – and thereby does weaken the powers of darkness to a similar degree.  Together, many of us can do much for Peace, and yet even if we are alone in the wilderness of war, we must each stand forth and do what we each can to combat the powers of violence and oppression.  For example …

*01) WE CAN Protest Peace-fully … There is no need to scream & shout while we do so; just making a pro-Peace, anti-murder placard and standing stoically on a street corner is enough to do the trick … Witnesseses thereto will be moved by your courage, and folks will be at least briefly awakened by your sense of forthrightness and compassion.

*02) WE CAN forgive our leaders … Send a letter to your Congressman, Congresswoman &/or Senator and FORGIVE THEM for any support they have given to Obama’s vile & unjust military actions in the past, FORGIVE THEM for any support they are currently giving to Trump’s call to military action today, and FORGIVE THEM for any support they give to criminally hypocritical & ineffective military actions in the future … We humans are herd animals.  This means that we stay the course when attacked, and this also means that we instinctively try and amend our ways to harmonize with fellow members of our “herd” — i.e. with those being openly kind to us.  So make your letters & emails exceptionally uplifting, reminding your “leaders” that — even though they have obviously forgotten their more Noble Selves while in office up to this point — you still believe in their ability to show some integrity.  Yes, most of them will probably laugh and continue with their war-mongering ways (after all, that’s where the money is that keeps them re-elected), and yet you are allowed to persist in your efforts for Peace, and you are allowed to have faith that a few just might repent and return to the Way of Justice and Kindness.

*03) WE CAN encourage our troops to stay Home … If you are an active serviceman or servicewoman, know that you are an American, and as such have every right – indeed a moral duty —  to refuse to fight in corrupt or unjust wars, and the ranks of the courageous conscientious objectors who came before you will be honored to accept you into their hallowed halls.  Any coward can fulfill an evil order to kill civilians disguised as “terrorists”.  And yet it takes a man or woman of real Courage & sound Virtue to face those immense pressures and refuse to do so … And what about the rest of us?  What can we do to make it easier for soldiers of conscience to say “No” to the wicked war machine?  Well, we can offer them our affirmation … and we can offer them our praise  … and we can offer them our money … and we can even offer them jobs &/or a place in our own homes.  We can loudly let them know that if they choose to boldly stand up for the values under which all moral beings live — if they have the courage to say “No” to the current call to illegitimately kill and unjustly oppress, then we will be there for them while and after they do so.

*04) WE CAN in-Courage the troops to disobey all unlawful &/or immoral orders … If the soldiers you personally know (or any soldiers reading this post) decide to go ahead and participate in ongoing &/or upcoming conflicts, be sure to encourage them — nay, in-Courage them — to be a force for Peace while they do so.  Remind them that they are never required to commit any act of evil; that there is always the alternative of saying “No” to any order that is malignant or malicious or in any way unethical.  Remind them that there will be thousands upon thousands of victims in this conflict — thousands of people who will be suffering mightily; thousands who will be in dire need of a hug or a helping hand; a smile or kind word.  Remind them that these victims will be fellow soldiers & enemy combatants, yes, and yet that they will also be civilian men & civilian women & innocent children.  Remind them to be ready to be a Meaning-full beacon of light in the upcoming time of blackness.

*05) WE CAN walk the Peace-full Talk in our communities … You can best combat the war-machine by being forces for Goodness & Peace in your neighborhoods; by openly forgiving those who have trespassed against you; by openly sharing what you have with those who have not; by openly caring for your neighbors (especially those we least care for); by openly respecting all sentient beings in how you speak & dress & work & eat.

*06) WE CAN become self-sustainable … Oligarchies only grow in one direction — towards their own inevitable self-destruction.  Indeed, the rampant chaos and social decay we are seeing today in the United States is actually the beginning phases of that nation’s death-throes. Yes, America is currently eating itself alive, my Friends, and it will not be long (maybe in 100 years; maybe in 10) before she crumbles to the dust.  And when she does, it is going to be very important to have large numbers of small, compassion-founded, giving-based, self-sustainable communities in place to act as havens of Peace in which we can all come together to rebuild a better nation(s).

In conclusion, regardless of what you choose to do (or not do) regarding your country’s involvement in international conflicts, one truth remains viable – there is no middle ground when it comes to war; either you are actively working to stop it from happening, or your silence counts as supporting the same.  In short, you only have two options:  either support war (either by actively championing it or by passively complaining about it) or actively do something — anything — to encourage its end.   In this day and age, when war dominates our headlines and when fear taints our Moments, there is a need to re-member some Good News:  namely, that we are all still Power-full – that we are all still Potent – that we are all still able, even in the midst of our deepest traumas, to make Peace a Reality … So take this Moment and vow to go boldly forth today … Where we previously dropped bombs and fired guns, let us send flowers and food … Where we previously complained about war, let us now stand courageously as public champions of Peace … Where we previously condemned immoral politics, let us now visualize the innate potential of all leaders to behave with Nobility … Where we previously condemned our “enemies”, let us now reach out to them with Compassion … Where we previously criticized those behaving “improperly”, let us now show them with our unconditional Caring  how to Be differently — how to act courageously like Human Beings (with Compassion), as opposed to reacting fearfully like mere animals (with anger) …  My Friends, it is now the time to transcend our primitive past and re-build a Noble Present … It all begins with this Moment and this Moment’s choice … Will you continue to focus on yourself at the expense of others, or will you – at least for this one instant – set aside your fears and desires and choose instead to Serve the greater Good of Peace?  What you do does not matter … It matters only that you Do something for Peace … The time has come to stop worshipping our heroes – and to start emulating them.  The time has come to go boldly forth and Be the change we wish to See in the world!!!

 

Amen … Let it be so”

“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules, but rather by people following them.  It’s people who follow orders who drop bombs & massacre villages … Young men go to war. Sometimes because they have to, sometimes because they want to. Always, they feel they are supposed to. This comes from the sad, layered stories of life, which over the centuries have seen courage confused with picking up arms, and cowardice confused with laying them down.” ~ via Banksy & Mitch Albom

Filed under: The War on WAR by Scaughdt