Somewhere around 2 weeks ago I started reading Arthur Silber at Once Upon A Time…. I really don’t remember how I came across his blog, but that isn’t relevant. He seems fairly astute and I look forward to reading more of his prolific writings.
His post today made me scream and cry in rage, frustration and heartbreak. Please go read it! Your life may well be too comfortable.
When Honor Is No Longer Possible: A Nation Beyond Forgiveness
If you wanted a final, unanswerable reason as to why war should not be
"privatized," there it is — if you’re willing to see it. I think Col.
Westhusing understood perfectly well that "profit is an important goal
for people working in the private sector." But he didn’t think that war
should be viewed as just another business, or as any sort of "business"
at all. This psychologist, and the entire apparatus of our government
and military today, find no problem with this approach. They embrace it
enthusiastically. Today, it is "a flaw" to think that "monetary values"
should not "outweigh moral ones in a war." This is where we are now.Life and death, torture, suffering, unendurable loss and agony — it’s
all a matter of profit and loss. Anything that improves the bottom line
is permitted — even the slaughter of innocents. We are a nation of
mercenaries — and we have lost our soul, perhaps for good. Col.
Westhusing finally concluded that honor was no longer possible, and he
saw no way to stop the horror. Do you wonder at what he did? We created
a situation where he felt he no longer had any meaningful choices –
but he refused to give up his conviction that you do "the right thing
because it was the right thing to do."And yet, we insist on finding fault with him. How did we reach such a dark and terrible place?
I am utterly appalled, shocked, and dismayed. I believe my heart may have finally been ripped from my chest as I silently stand here and watch its final, slowing beating. Arthur Silber has written my exact sentiments:
I despair for my country. We tolerate all
these horrors, and we barely protest. I think we are beyond forgiveness
now. Forgiveness is not possible for what we have let ourselves become.
I read it as well. Like you, I picked up on that blog someplace else. Did so today while reading other things. I read it, and I honestly was left speechless. To this moment, I do not know what to say, but the last feelings expressed at the end of the author’s post reflect a lot of what I am thinking and can’t find a way to say it. That a nation that was admired throughout the world for so many virtues and the potential to do so much good has become the most terrible advocate of torture, aggression, and other ills while trying to preach to others against such things. . .it’s just unspeakable and despair-filling. What truly despairs me is the silence of many who simply acquiesce. When good people stay silent, that is when evil truly happens.
Amen Angel!
I have no doubt that it is dangerous to say the things I do in this country today, but I cannot remain completely silent with the situation as it is. I would rather be locked away and tortured by these assholes than to sit by silently and say nothing.
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