Saturday, March 17, 2012

On the Amnesia of War: May We Never Forget

If war is amnesia, then the world needs amnesty. If the Ancient Athenians could make it happen, why can't we? Too many people making too much money spending other people's blood and treasure, no doubt. Now that this country has no more to spend, perhaps we will see less blood and treasure expended overseas. . .

The United States needs to forget what we were fighting about and starting figuring out what we are doing over there in the first place. Better yet, let us leave the determination of each country to its own and leave the meaning and direction of everyday life to the men and women have committed far more to improving their lives and the well-being of their families and communities.

What is government for except to protect our rights, secure the borders, provide a free market, and release all other powers to the states and the people? When mad men become mad dictators, they want to make the world mad with them. Consider Moammar Gadhafi, a hateful zealot intent only on expanding his own renown in an impoverished world. In the United States, the Executive Branch has practically taken over the role of Congress in declaring and demanding armed conflict throughout the world, an act which should offend many here at home, yet fails time and again to gather any traction except among antiquated peaceniks and overgrown hippies.

In this country, we cannot blame our leaders alone for these outrageous and unnecessary forays into foreign lands. Enough already! Insane yet true, inane yet inescapable, until voters in this country demand that our overstrapped and overstretched armed forces return home, we will have to content ourselves with the blood and loss in Afghanistan, Iraq, and every other inconceivable quagmire throughout the world.

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