tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post4396656756526526072..comments2023-10-19T11:27:25.565-04:00Comments on Nutwood Junction: War, huh, yeah. What is it good for?Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05149068921334726430noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-72666719494035204802009-01-29T12:30:00.000-05:002009-01-29T12:30:00.000-05:00Didn't see the movie ... may after this entry.'Pri...Didn't see the movie ... may after this entry.<BR/><BR/>'Private Ryan', got to me as well. People don't know, what they don't know. We have become desensitized to the loss of life in so many ways, culturally. In urban areas, where murder and mayhem has long be glorified, to the middle and upper middle classes who sit in front of a tele or monitor playing imaginary games, where they think nothing of the acts their 'avatars' execute.<BR/><BR/>That is why I use the phrase, 'Boots on the Ground', because things are so much different when you HAVE to face them. There is a line in the movie 'The Unforgiven' where this dialogue takes place:<BR/><BR/><BR/>The Schofield Kid: [after killing a man for the first time] It don't seem real... how he ain't gonna never breathe again, ever... how he's dead. And the other one too. All on account of pulling a trigger. <BR/>Will Munny: It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have. <BR/>The Schofield Kid: Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming. <BR/>Will Munny: We all got it coming, kid. <BR/><BR/>I think that this is what is missing from society as a whole, the sense of what the loss of life means. When you match that with the distance between classes of people, of countries, of idealologies, you lose the sense of the humanity of someone.<BR/><BR/>So you use these weapons that can cause great damage, because you are sooo insulated from dealing with the consequence. One of the reason that WWI was supposed to be 'the war to end all wars', was that the suffering that took place had been unknown in the modern world, at least on the scope of it.<BR/><BR/>Now, we see each other only in caricature ... in our own country as well as foreign. The connection to others that made war so terrible, is muted, and it has been replaced with 'as long as it isn't me' kind of thinking.<BR/><BR/>This, is how Big Brother wins. He will convince us of our own self importance, while he goes about the elimantion of those deemed 'unworthy'. We can wrap ourselves around our own 'patriotism', and feel we 'know' what war is, when really, we don't. As long as we can purchase cheap gas (even at $4 a gallon, that is STILL the cheapest in the world!) and watch our reality shows.<BR/><BR/>Anywho, the ugly jigoistic tendencies of the talking heads have far too many folks sedated, and not thinking nor feeling for themselves. It is too difficult, almost as difficult as it is for me to type this (been at it for an hour ... geez louise!).<BR/><BR/>One of the things that I find disappearing in our nation, are the folks like you and Ken, who can disagree with a principle, yet remain open to being able to be convinced if another perspective is promising or daresay, correct. I think y'all were repubs, but I don't think I am speaking out of turn when I say that. To have seen thru the Rep. ticket as wrong for the country and the general greater good of all, is a fabulous trait.<BR/><BR/>It is what folks need to have in order to stop the killing and waste of life. Can it happen? You just don't know ...Big Mark 243https://www.blogger.com/profile/10974573439218884164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-91000182754702926282009-01-27T14:35:00.000-05:002009-01-27T14:35:00.000-05:00You make a lot of good points. I may have to see t...You make a lot of good points. I may have to see that movie because I've always been interested in the code talkers.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08506026496063245730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-87014191951963127332009-01-26T14:23:00.000-05:002009-01-26T14:23:00.000-05:00I know what you are saying and I pray daily for ou...I know what you are saying and I pray daily for our troops safety , god bless those who sacrifice for our freedoms.<BR/>hugs<BR/>SherryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-80280273002257103972009-01-26T13:09:00.000-05:002009-01-26T13:09:00.000-05:00Nice entry. I could never bring myself to watch S...Nice entry. I could never bring myself to watch Saving Private Ryan again. It was too painful the first time.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04718940729278446028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-5678801683448268132009-01-26T12:44:00.000-05:002009-01-26T12:44:00.000-05:00Thanks Beth for sending those pic's on to me. I a...Thanks Beth for sending those pic's on to me. I appreciate it. Somw good ones. War movies really get to me but I would have rather watched that than The Cell. It was so out of real life. LucyLucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02272388069537746789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-91931245812732556502009-01-26T01:34:00.000-05:002009-01-26T01:34:00.000-05:00i am totally not a scholar about wars but i think ...i am totally not a scholar about wars but i think that hitting a button and not seeing those who will die by that action IS easier. The person doing that does not see what the after effect is face to face. I think many Americans go thru their day to day life NOT really caring or thinking about the end results of wars because they are not seeing what goes on face to face. I have read extensively that Bush kept a lot of what went on with the war out of the daily papers and it has been much worse than what we even know. XOlisa https://www.blogger.com/profile/07625835751678075313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-69476574440129705312009-01-25T23:16:00.000-05:002009-01-25T23:16:00.000-05:00During WW II things were rationed, fuel, bread, bu...During WW II things were rationed, fuel, bread, butter. We had to crush and save our cans Now war is a tv show. Some wise one once said that war is sweet to those who aren't in one. And another one said that when a war is fought by an aggresor nation on foreign lands it is always justified as protecting freedoms. I can locate the source of those quotes if anyone wants them.<BR/>I support the courage and bravery of our soldiers, both the noble and ignoble, but I have no use for the top military and non-military minds that got us into this stupid war and keep us there.DBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09144446186279708019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-29263126614498019702009-01-25T22:26:00.000-05:002009-01-25T22:26:00.000-05:00If you haven't already watched it, "WE WE...If you haven't already watched it, "WE WERE SOLDIERS" is awesome. But be warned, it will really get to you - based on a true story.<BR/><BR/>What you mentioned about smart bomb technology, etc. is what gets to me when I watch newsreels of WWII, Vietnam, etc. showing planes crashing & ships being sunk. All we see are the machines in the film, & our society has become so desensitized to killing that most aren't moved by it. I am. I see beyone the machines being destroyed - the sailors, the tank operators, the pilots, and so on. I realize I am watching people dying.<BR/><BR/>I agree on your point about President Bush's mistake. We have such a spoiled society now that no one knows what all-out war really is. Gas rationing, automakers factories being converted strictly to making war machines, growing as much of your food as you can. In the past, America wasn't anywhere near as affluent as it is now & all available resources had to be directed to the war effort in WWII. The scale of the war far exceeded our capabilities, & I think that war was won & our freedom preserved by prayer. <BR/><BR/>I am all for going to war when we need to - it's always been someone else starting something. But, if I ever became President, anytime I was faced with sending our young men & women, peoples husbands, wives, daughters, brothers, sisters, into war, knowing they would not all come home alive, it would rip me out of the frame. I never have seen pictures on a page or numbers, I see faces & people. War is a horrible thing, & anyone who likes it in my opinion is sick. This conservative despises war, but I recognize the fact that it becomes necessary someitmes.<BR/><BR/>I know I'm not the stereotypical male in American society, but I get very, very emotional when it comes to our military personnel. I absolutely never fail to thank a service man or woman for my freedom & their service to our country. Because that may be the last time I ever see them in this life, I always want them to know I'm proud of them for serving.<BR/><BR/>We all need to keep our military personnel in our prayers always.<BR/><BR/>Good post, Beth.<BR/><BR/>Dirk<BR/>http://tsalagiman2.blogspot.com/Dirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794945973074374935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-92099340202379291642009-01-25T22:24:00.000-05:002009-01-25T22:24:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Dirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794945973074374935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-13735684611580578502009-01-25T19:35:00.000-05:002009-01-25T19:35:00.000-05:00I just re-read my comment to you. I'm sorry that l...I just re-read my comment to you. I'm sorry that last statement was a little harsh. Any war that cost lives will never be easy in my view. On the other side of those lives, even the enemies are families, someone who loved them. One life is one too many. This is just a delicate subject matter to me, as I'm sure it is for anyone who has someone serving in the line of fire. I didn't mean to take it out on you in comments, I know what you meant by that question.(Hugs)IndigoSage Ravenwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17143502548162174269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-50468954150683112412009-01-25T19:28:00.000-05:002009-01-25T19:28:00.000-05:00I expected more out of the movie "Windtalkers"...t...I expected more out of the movie "Windtalkers"...the whole story behind the usage of the Navajo language was almost lost in this movie. It could of definitely had more meat to the whole concept. Paul has seen all the world war II movies out there: Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, even the movie (which is based on Viet.)We were soldiers. He loves the history in these wars. <BR/><BR/>I truly believe if we were to fight with the idealogy an eye for an eye, we would all indeed be blind. War in defense at times can't be helped. However Vietnam and now Iraq are wars that are simply wasting lives at the mercy of wrong choices. My SIL is in Iraq, there isn't a day I don't wish this war would end. I'm all to aware of the consequences of this war.<BR/><BR/>Is war easier? I think the ones to ask are those who come home covered with a flag. (Hugs)IndigoSage Ravenwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17143502548162174269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-76802784777181908332009-01-25T18:58:00.000-05:002009-01-25T18:58:00.000-05:00Hubby is so much like you & Ken & your mov...Hubby is so much like you & Ken & your movies... He bought a couple more this weekend to add to his collection. He just looked up & seen the picture of your movie & said, "I saw that movie." LOLHolliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02731060504909592779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-23586466146585611112009-01-25T18:25:00.000-05:002009-01-25T18:25:00.000-05:00Have a good week coming up!Have a good week coming up!Missiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16602020006220886071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-78780658794875959912009-01-25T18:20:00.000-05:002009-01-25T18:20:00.000-05:00There was a program on NPR this morning that dealt...There was a program on NPR this morning that dealt with this very thing. It talked about how today's somewhat impersonal modern warfare can, in some cases, result in a military person sitting at a computer directing assaults and then going home to have dinner with his family that evening. I'll try to find a podcast of it later so you can hear it. Very interesting!Laurelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03664721949113509873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-31151493805913897842009-01-25T17:37:00.000-05:002009-01-25T17:37:00.000-05:00Hi Beth,I remember that Star Trek episode and how ...Hi Beth,<BR/>I remember that Star Trek episode and how disturbing it was on so many levels ... mainly because it really hit home. War should only be a last resort -- and it comes with great sacrifice. It feels like the Bush administration used it as a political tool, that they force-fit the facts to build their case and then left the country to pick up the pieces. "Mission Accomplished"?!? Not by a long shot ...<BR/>Best,<BR/>MartyMartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05696228344180197628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-48370611144662573732009-01-25T16:19:00.000-05:002009-01-25T16:19:00.000-05:00Yes you are right about it being the right thing a...Yes you are right about it being the right thing at the time. I have read about the psycology of the time in Japan where to surrender was a major disgrace. They would have never surrendered, it did save millions of lives on both the USA and Japanese side. I wonder how in 2045 how it will be percieved, almost all the veterans will be gone then.Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02714440790407126206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-59454038649764071862009-01-25T15:46:00.000-05:002009-01-25T15:46:00.000-05:00Nice entry. We have talked about the lack of Amer...Nice entry. We have talked about the lack of American sacrifice numerous times. <BR/><BR/>On the news, I saw that recruiting is picking up again due to the economic downturn. I hope that these new recruits are spared the horror and hell of war.Ken Richeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425810816600512504noreply@blogger.com