Another War Ended… Another “?” Raised.

Every day, our actions as humans continue to raise questions regarding our ability to function on, with the billing as the top animal in the long bio feeding chain.

Usually, the political arena is one into which my thoughts and actions will not willingly go. There are too many, and a constantly growing number of, existing interests and too many mirrors and smoke screens in place; each is designed to take our prying eyes and our questioning attitude into a different direction, away from the realities of the games being played.

A couple of days ago, the war in Iraq was officially declared ended by governmental decree. The same type of decree that started it some 10 years ago. And from the look of it all, there really was no coherent reason for the many years this particular war went on … and on. To my limited understanding, no major inroads were made against the Taliban from Iraqi soil and no stranger than normal weapons were found as a result of this prolonged and costly stay. I have not sufficient knowledge or insight to make determinant statements and I do not proclaim to be endowed with such enlightenment; but there is just enough life behind me, coupled with a fairly good memory, to be able to look at other times and other places, and see only more of the same. There is no finger pointing to either side of the political spectrum either; both have been heavily involved in one or more of these efforts along the way. Of course, while throwing guilt into the opposite camp whenever possible.

The concept of a “just” war has been bandied about for centuries. Of course, the wars were “just” based on the point of view of the ones who started the ball rolling. And, if these folk actually did achieve their goal, then it was not a war… the whole effort became an “Epic”, a pursuit of rightful justice... But, again, always from the point of view of the pursuer. Humans will be able to, given a few tools and enough time, create a myriad of reasons to justify whatever action they wish to pursue. Our imagination in this direction is simply limitless.

How many lives lost?… just on our side? How about on the other side? (let’s remember that to them, their effort was as just… from their "misguided" point of view, of course) And how about the many who have been lost on the ranks of the ever losing folk, the middle ground where the vast majority of people live?... Those who, while living in the theater of the ongoing war, are not directly involved in the conflict, but lack the means to get away from it, to flee?  I don’t have the numbers but if we look at the last 3 major engagements, I bet you the numbers go well into the plus side of the half million mark. Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan… not to mention losses in those many, smaller theaters where we "officially" do not exist. Or the thousands of returning, living bodies and half bodies, still searching for an answer that is not forthcoming, while their minds simply inhabit the shell and refuse to partake of the world around it. They are still horrified by its inhumanness. We give them pills and send them on their way… A way no one but themselves know just how twisted and painful can be.

If this entry, a paean to futility and frustration, can be called anything, my best guess is that it might be called a “Plea for Sanity”. Sanity which may allow us to see beyond our noses; to look behind into our own history and to understand we are doing nothing but playing the same tune, dancing the same dance and ending with the same outcome: Nothing. In exchange, we are giving up the lives of thousands of young men and women who, given a chance, might have been instrumental in the building of a better society, a better place for our (and their) children.

I guess the story of the Tower of Babel must be based on a real event. We are certainly different; we, the hundreds of different groups of people who inhabit this planet of ours, refuse to even consider that another group may be “righter” than us. It is backyard justice meted out, based only on power and opportunity. He/She who has the bigger bat and the bigger balls (literally and figuratively) will rule the playground. There is money, much more than you or I could even muster in our wildest guesses, behind these moves. And, unfortunately, money rules at decision time.

You will now go on your way, I will go on my way… “they” will go on their way. Until the next time comes in which we, or someone else, must strut their goodies in order to establish or, to re-establish the pecking order.

I could ask you to pray for those families who have lost a loved one in any one of these wars but then, anytime one of our own dies, even when we do not know him or her, that person lost is a member of our extended family; especially the family made up of those of us who have served at one time or another. But, pray for them; for all of them, no matter what side, color or creed. It is the only solace we can give these souls in their ethereal wandering.

Be Well … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

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