Evidently, the United States loves the "war" metaphor. If we don't like something, we declare war on it. Warring and fighting things are in our lexicon. Politicians who want our vote are "fighting" for us. They're one of us. That other guy (or woman) is one of them. On October 7th of 2008, during a "town hall" style debate, one Presidential candidate referred to his opponent as "that one."
Today, a governor, and a probable future presidential candidate is apologizing to a mayor and his city's residents for his staff's taking revenge on that city's mayor for not endorsing that governor. What did they do to him? They closed access lanes to the one of the world's busiest bridges, which caused massive traffic tie ups in that mayor's city.
Yesterday, two prominent politicians gave speeches declaring the War On Poverty failed- that we didn't win. And therefore, we should stop making war on a thing that we cannot defeat. One of those speeches evoked the glories of a previous President who WON the Cold War. The last war we won, as a nation was won under this same President in a military action where we invaded and vanquished a cruel regime that had undergone a coup, leaving U.S. medical students in danger. This invasion, came two days after a suicide truck bomber pierced the perimeter of a U.S. Marine base in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 241 American Servicemen, 220 of which were Marines. So, we left that country and many things have happened since. But all that is certainly for another day. Wow! This President also is alleged to have said, "we waged a war on poverty and poverty won." He tasked his then Attorney General to convene a task force in order to investigate the social welfare system and reform it. It is my opinion that since that time, class warfare was waged upon government itself and people who work for government. And that has spawned an awful lot as well, but that too, is for another time and place.
Many marched in the streets in the 1960's and 70's and urged our government to "wage peace". It was my hope that by changing the lexicon, hearts and minds could change from seeking conflict to seeking accord. This is not "squishy" or ill advised- although, many would vehemently disagree. And in disagreement, comes the name calling, the race baiting, the class warfare, the casting of blame on those who don't want to wage war- unless waging it is a clear and last resort.
Today's post asks you to take a moment and think about which side of war and peace you think you're on. Has conflict and disagreement become so normal, that it is now almost DNA like, embedded in every breath we take or utterance?
Today's humstle is kind of corny, I'll admit, but it does fit into the whole issue of war versus peace. So remember Jim Messina and Kenny Loggins', Peace Of Mind. And think of the concept of making war and being pissed off in the context of that great saying; "Today is not your day--tomorrow's not looking good either."
I wish you peace to you today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.
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