In Issue 9, I see that Paul Jacob is still out and active in his educational efforts against registration for the military draft. This issue contains text of a speech he gave by videotape at a Libertarianism and War Conference, held in the Spring of 1984.As I’ve read about his activities in these past issues in the early 1980s, it’s difficult to go back to the thought processes people may have had then because now, after the events of 9/11, the idea of conscription doesn’t even seem necessary.
This terrorist attack, and the continued government manipulation of the event, changed everything.
We see evidence of this all the time. As I write this, a controversy is heating up as to how much we are willing to take in order to prevent another terrorist attack on a commercial airplane. As it stands now, if you want to fly, you might have to choose between a “naked” body scanner or an “enhanced patdown” by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees.
But I’m not here to discuss that controversy, I want to explore how 9/11 has gone deeper into our body cavities, so to speak. Are you ready?
The attack led Americans to think in a totally different way. We were forced to be much more engaged and aware of the violence in the world because it finally came here.
And how did we react? Well, exactly like all people around the world who have been facing large-scale violence in their countries react. We suffered through deep sadness from the death and destruction. We became angry.
People were ready to retaliate or fight back in some manner. Many wanted to “kick some ass.” These feelings ripened the natural inclination many people have of wanting to protect and defend. Young men and women joined up to fight willingly. Conscription was not necessary.
Even as time moves on, a military draft is still not necessary because society does its part to keep certain emotions and feelings alive. The idea of automatically classifying any member of the military as heroes is stronger than ever. This hero worship is based on no action other than joining this group.
Society’s job is to continue to commend military membership itself as virtuous, even to celebrate this membership for those in the past who only became members against their will due to conscription.
If we celebrate the military service of these veterans too, it helps us ignore the fact they were conscripted. This helps us create an illusion that overshadows the truth of the past. Just in case anyone starts thinking about it too hard.
This myth making, on top of the continued manipulation of 9/11, lessens the need for military conscription. But it increases the need for war.
2 comments:
Debbie, Here is what I recently wrote to a nonviolent sympathizer. I've edited it, but only to soften the obscenity I used in it:
"As i listened on Veterans day to one after another testimonial to "our brave men and women who gave their lives so that we could remain free and secure in our homeland," I despaired of this nation ever achieving a lasting peace. The sycophantic voices praising war heroes were those of liberals (progressives) and conservatives alike.
"In the first place, that statement is pure b___-s___ propaganda of the worst order. Those dead veterans of any war did not die for me or my freedom. They died because they were trained killers, paid to kill or be killed, who happened to catch the short end of the stick; they died because they were brainwashed into believing their leaders' military-industrial propaganda; they died because their fellow citizens are war mongers; they died because they swallowed the government bait, hook, line and sinker; they died because they were reared in government schools where their teachers filled their small minds with phony American history glorifying war; they died because they were youthfully ignorant of truth; they died and probably went to h___ because they wouldn't know Jesus if he was picketing outside the recruiting center where they signed up; they died because they couldn't find a decent job or were suckered by the signing incentives; they died for many reasons but they sure as h___ didn't die for me!
"Until this nation stops awarding congressional medals of honor to war "heroes," and begins honoring its rare peace hero, our chances of obtaining a lasting peace are nil, zilch, zippo--and rightly so."
Sincerely,
Debbie, Don't misinterpret that I am suggesting a Congressional Peace Medal, which would surely be as phoney as the Nobel Peace Prize, which has been awarded to terrorists and politicians alike. (Is there a difference?)
Hey Ned, I really like the idea of honoring peace heroes. The best thing about that is that everyone of us are capable of being a peace hero, just by leaving other people alone.
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