Politicians & Balls ..

[alkemisty]

Driving around parts of New Zealand over the last few weeks, and having met half a dozen or so WW2 veterans it occurred to me that a lot of the current generation have absolutely no clue whatsoever what these war vets went through. Or why. Sadly a number of the war vets I spoke with didn’t really know why either, apart from the political stance at the time. Whatever the reasons, political, peer or moral pressures, they took part in a war that shaped history, cultures and minds for generations to come.

These veterans gave thier lives, health and spirit to a cause they believed in or in cases where they opposed it, were forced into supporting. Ever since WW2, WW3 has been talked about, feared, and quite possibly conspired toward. Conspiracy towards war is questionable and endlessly debatable. What I am interested in though, is whether or not war is something the human race can really deal with.

Do we humans have the collective stamina, energy and wit to avoid, or better still (in my opinion) evaporate the conditions where unhealthy conflict can thrive?

Personally, I know many folk who believe the right to defend ones own territory, economics, land, people or culture is an undeniable right. The belief that this right can justify killing or stopping by means of force, any invasion or act of dominance/attack or attempt to annihilate is not an unreasonable one in the name of preservation or defense against tyranny. And here is where things get difficult for proponents of ‘peace’.

I can see there are many many, potential causes for war. I don’t argue that these causes left unchecked in the name of passive resistance (for the sake of moral higher ground?) is at all desirable. What I question is whether or not it takes a bigger set of ‘balls’ to start and win a war or to avoid one.

I can understand that political and business interests have a vested interest in starting and sustaining a war. Historically, many industrys have prospered from war. The military and arms manufacture is no weeny business. I strongly suspect that the military today are kept alive partly by the one thing we are all taught to fear. World War 3. Uh huh. Then what? WW4, 5 and 6?! Who is the moron that started giving wars numbers? The same, ahem, morons who invest in war perhaps?

There is possible outright stupidity, neglect or underhand manipulation giving power to vested interests by psychologically preparing the taxpayer through sequential and subtle numbers. Think about it for a second. Counting has a natural expectation toward the next. 1,2,3,4…etc. Why didn’t the genius that allocated numbers to wars just call it the ‘last war of the world’. Or ‘the war against the Nazi’s’.

One wonders.

Getting back to the challenge of peace and size of balls.
Peace can never realistically mean no conflict. Peace surely requires conflict for healthy understanding and mutual boundarys to be formulated. Friction (conflict) creates heat. We want enough heat (healthy conflict) to keep us alive and warm. We don’t want the heat (unhealthy conflict) to turn us to toast.

Healthy confilct must lay the foundation for respect and simplicity in living together, whether in a personal relationship or a community. I am not convinced given historical and current evidence that politicians, generally, are capable of such delicate yet powerful ways of communicating or behaving within relationships. Just listen to New Zealand parliament on radio for a great example of whinging and retarded behaviour.

Given political institutions tendency to degrade the opposing institution or any opposing views, I am not confident politicians as a rule, could break out from habitually attacking and degrading opposing views. Here lies a major obstacle to progress towards healthy conflict for the sake of growth and sustainable peace. Character assassination is not a healthy form of conflict. Respectful challenge and resolution is key and a very real challenge, whether collectively or individually.

If our elected ‘leaders’ cannot debate in a spirit of fellowship and love with anyone who holds opposing views, (even when they are really pissed off with someone and having an overwhelming urge to strangle them) then what are they teaching us and what chance do we have of progress beyond the traditional attack and defend strategy?

Balls. Damn big ones. That’s what it will take. Political, economic, cultural and individual balls.

Do I want to change the world? Yes.

Personally I would like everyone to have a peaceful existence, not in the passive sense of the word but in the sense we are active and alive with the ability to construct a better existence for all.

Destruction is the easy road. We have all taken it at some point in our lives so we know its easier than being creatively constructive and putting aside the feelings of wanting to destroy and hurt.

I would rather change the world using words than with a gun in my hand.
Anyone can use a gun. John Wayne became famous for it in his movies. A one bullet solution to a threat. Brilliant. Guts and blood. The mark of a real man to be fast with a gun.

Personally I think it’s the sign of a witless wimp.

Can we assume the human race is all the same in terms of desires, intelligence, disposition, awareness etc? That seems a dangerous assumption and doesn’t seem to stack up in the face of the melting pot of humanity displaying itself in all its glory. Politicians as a case in point, claim the ground of leadership. If you are a politician reading this, show me the money on that one.

I’m not saying we should all be the same or want to be. Far from it. I do think one people one planet is a great theme. I can handle someone wanting to live differently to me and having thier own beliefs. I ask only that those beliefs allow my beliefs room to breathe and don’t justify violence against me or my fellow humans.

Is that too much to ask? Maybe. If you are living off the proceeds of war at the expense of lives I doubt whether you have the conscience or willingness to allow my views. I actually doubt whether you care at all. Maybe you could go grow a garden instead. It’s fun and you might feel the love.

Two things a friend and mentor of mine gave me to think about long ago. (Thank you Judith !)

1. Stupidity is a gift from the gods, don’t misuse it.
2. The fatal flaw in democracy. What if the majority are stupid?

Both these pearls gave me something to think about. Admittedly, the first one applied to me at the time and was a somewhat subtle and at the same time blunt message Yes, my life at that time was a war zone. Hence my qualification writing today about war from an individuals point of view.

I suspect the answer to overcoming war as a human condition lies with us collectively and individually.

I am certain however, individual action and effort will be the heart that keeps the collective body alive and well.

Do try this at home.

Alan Robinson
readings, ezireadings, healing,intuitive, psychic, reading

[Brutha]

These veterans gave thier lives, health and spirit to a cause they believed in or in cases where they opposed it, were forced into supporting. Ever since WW2, WW3 has been talked about, feared, and quite possibly conspired toward. Conspiracy towards war is questionable and endlessly debatable. What I am interested in though, is whether or not war is something the human race can really deal with.

Thanks to nuclear weapons nobody actually wants a third world war because nobody is safe anymore and making money has no use when one is dead.

I’m not saying we should all be the same or want to be. Far from it. I do think one people one planet is a great theme.

That's theme is more or less what Wilson proposed under the name New World Order after the first world war.

It's also pretty controversial around here.
It isn't something simple.


In the end I think it's dangerous to claim that having balls should be the determining characteristic for a politician.

Understanding course and effects is difficult and when you want to create peace you have to end conflicts before they turn into wars with requires to understand them.
The call for easy solutions mostly doesn't lead to resolution of conflicts.

[alkemisty]

Nice reply. Yes, its' possibly dangerous to suggest politicians have should have balls. In the sense that I suggest it perhaps a better analogy for courage would be 'courage' to go beyond having balls

[ar81]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Thanks to nuclear weapons nobody actually wants a third world war because nobody is safe anymore and making money has no use when one is dead.

Thanks to nuclear weapons the attacks conducted with such artifacts, terrorists now believe that bombing civilians may bring victory. Bombing civilians to win wars is an idea proposed by Giulio Douhet after WWI, which later became "area bombing" and "strategic bombing".

But The Blitz failed in London, so bombing civilians do not lead to victory, but exactly the opposite. Douhet was wrong. Bombing civilians do not lead to victory.

Want to play nuclear war, "enjoying" the killing of millions in a douhetian scale?
DEFCON - Introversion software

Play it on your own risk.
Do not blame me if you get depressed after playing.

[Brutha]

But The Blitz failed in London, so bombing civilians do not lead to victory, but exactly the opposite. Douhet was wrong. Bombing civilians do not lead to victory.

The allies did also bomb civilians and did win WWII.
GB wasn't hit very hard with bombs compared to a lot of German cities and Japanese cities.

Thanks to nuclear weapons the attacks conducted with such artifacts, terrorists now believe that bombing civilians may bring victory.

Terrorists believed that bombing may bring victory well before nuclear weapons.

Additionally the strategic case for terrorism is different than the case for area bombing.
Terrorism works and now racial Islamists have a lot more influence in Iraq than before 9/11.
More people in the middle East now hate the US than before 9/11.

Want to play nuclear war, "enjoying" the killing of millions in a douhetian scale?
DEFCON - Introversion software

The point about nuclear war is that it transforms war into an activity that nobody enjoys any more.

Leaders not enjoying war is a very good thing.