Military Madness

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OpEDS

Although many have seen in it an antiwar statement, Spielberg’s powerful Saving Pvt. Ryan, based on a WW2 story, is also a glorification of war and especially the American military.

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]ach and every year at this time in November our nation remembers those who fought and died wearing a US military uniform. But only a few of what they named ‘ Wars ‘ were ones in which our young military were rightfully sent overseas to fight. This writer can only think of one such time, and that was WW2. All the rest of them were disgraceful attempts by our ( so called ) leaders to keep a stranglehold on the world. Sadly, the dead wearing those proud US uniforms of various branches have always been transformed into heroes. Sadder still, they were not heroes, rather pawns used disgracefully in some Military Industrial Empire’s chess game. Worse still, in most cases they were sent into harm’s way by leaders, both political and military, who never had to smell the odor of instant death:

The procession of generals marches slowly

                with the clouds of gunpowder behind them,

                as another encounter eases to flame

                and the shouts of battle burn invisibly

                from what once were bunkers of manhood

                reduced now to pools of slaughter-house blood

                flooding charred carcasses, uniformed but in death.

                And the plotters never once look back

                for the optimism of victory will not allow it.

                They simply smile and pat one another

                and then interrupt for a quick reflection;

                And their silence is for that glorious past

                and all those poor pitiful pawns,

                and for future harvests which will occur

                on the plains now of blood and sweat

                in the limbo era that is renamed WAR.

(PAF October 1970)

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]imes like this become a ‘ Catch 22’ for we who dissent against this empire. If you mind your manners and keep your mouth shut as the hype and hypocrisy abounds all around you, you become almost as bad as them. If you stand up and speak out against the tide, they label you unpatriotic and being against our military. Well, there is a way out of this conundrum. We should show remorse for the dead and wounded and deformed for life young military personnel, but only adding our feeling that They had NO business being sent to those places to do what they did to others and, ultimately, themselves! If those of us who ‘ know better’ as to the machinations of this Military Industrial Empire remain silent, then we give it license, and never reach our young minds with Truth.  

                The reception of heroes began early

                as do all occasions befitting dawn.

                The congregation of colonels arrived first

                riding in on the backs of soldiers,

                and they kneeled at the altars of business,

                then proceeded to receive the generals

                who had by now greeted the sun.

                The one stars carried the two stars

                and the three stars the four stars,

                in the most common fashion: piggyback.

                Next arrived the right handed reverends,

                blessing and saluting and saluting and blessing

                ( they even baptised a newborn bastard)

                and they took their rightful place on stage

                awaiting, as all, their newest King,

                escorted by hordes of helmets.

                And the King humbled all beneath him

                as his rented throne awaited

                ( being valid for four more years).

                By now the sun had sickened

                and proceeded behind soft clouds,

                and the applause carried through the wind

                on this day of the recycling of evil.

                                PAF Fall 1970

Nearly 50 years and nothing ever changes, does it?

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Parting shot—a word from the editors
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