How do you feel about war and peace? Foolish question, isn't it? Everybody loves peace, or at least we say we do.
Isn't it a sad story that we spend so much treasure -- young lives especially, but also innumerable lives including women and children in our nation and the others?
Some were accidental we say, since some weren't intended, but they are all dead just the same. Moreover, we are wasting incalculable truckloads of money. We actually did lose truckloads in Iraq, or at least we don't know what happened to all that loot, in our privatized corporate hand-off. Wouldn't that money have been great to improve health, education, and infrastructure and decrease poverty? You can add many constructive needs.
What keeps us, as citizens in a democracy, from speaking aloud and clear that we won't be fear mongered any longer? We are conscious of what happened to countries of the world, down through the ages, which have been empire building. No, that isn't the way they described their foreign ventures either. They were only seeking access to needed natural resources, freeing citizens of that nation from dictatorial leadership or providing them a superior form of government, and on and on.
We began our military buildup because we were afraid of the evil actions of others. We needed to be so well equipped that no one will dare attack us. We needed a bomb so deadly that no would dare bomb us, but then others got the bomb.
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Even though we spend more on military than several of our potential attackers combined, we are still worried. Indian wars included drumbeats; we use media and political palaver. This fear specter has been called a boogeyman. There is a benefit financially. War munitions making, provides jobs and advancing technology provides a continuous effort for such need. It has become a special aspect of our economy; money is king in a capitalist society and it has become a large part of our economy. Fear has been found easy to engender.
Isn't there really a better way? Talks and treaties should be further used in civilized societies.
In previous columns, I have included snatches of poetry written by Bud Brand. I've never met Bud Brand, but have heard many good things about him as a Salvation Army gymnasium volunteer, teacher of youth. He writes a lot of poetry too and this one he wrote on Aug. 8, 2011:
He titled this one -- Prayers of Peace
As wars engulf the globe and sunshine turns to rust, prayers are needed daily lest life is left in dust.
The needs of greed and power are threatening life's lease, so let's make sure that we will breathe the air of peace.
I would have suggested arbitration and treaties, before and after, in addition to prayers, but that would do away with the rhyme.
Bernie Hughes, Ed.D, is a retired educator who resides in Superior. He can be reached at bernie3024@centurytel.net .
