Lend A Hand

What would you wish for if you could? Many people would answer World Peace. It’s a wonderful thought and a beautiful dream. But what would really happen if we suddenly had World Peace?

For the first day the majority of the world would celebrate. Parades and parties of all kinds would be thrown and people would be dancing in the streets in honor of this historic day. Politicians would likely spend the day signing documents, truces, treaties, and holding press conferences.

On the second or third day when the celebrations start to wind down, police, soldiers, all military personnel, private military soldiers and anyone involved in waging war or protecting the people would begin to wonder what can be done for work. Obviously their jobs aren’t needed any longer. Can anyone say mass unemployment?

Obviously peace would be a wonderful thing to happen – for most of us. Perhaps peace would create jobs we haven’t thought of but there is no doubt that a lack of violence in the world would put a lot of people out of work. Which is kinda sad when you think about it. I’m sure most of them wouldn’t mind being out of a job for a reason such as this.

I just think that since fighting and wars are never going to completely disappear (it just isn’t in human nature to not have conflict) we should look at some of the slightly-tarnished silver lining.

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Propaganda is a way the government gains support for their military activities usually by exaggerating or misrepresenting the facts. In America frequently we are told that the people we are warring against are evil, bad, and wrong. Naturally the people on the other side are telling their citizens the same things about us.

The problem is that wars are usually fought for a number of reasons; economical, political, religious, and social. There are always at least two points of view and, right or wrong, two sides to every message of propaganda.

Walter Lippmann, former advisor to President Wilson once said,

“We must remember that in time of war what is said on the enemy’s side of the front is always propaganda, and what is said on our side of the front is truth and righteousness, the cause of humanity and a crusade of peace.”

Many times was is avoidable despite what the government wants you to think. This is why it is so important to read beyond the mainstream media when it comes to the real reasons behind the wars we wage. On the other side of the coin, alternative media sources can be rather biased as well so really do your research:

Alternative News Sources

Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR)

Alternative Resources on the War against Terriorism

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For as long as there has been life on the planet there has been struggle. Let’s face facts; war is here to stay and World Peace is a fantasy.

And if you think about it, while we disapprove of war, we also are more than happy to support wars that we feel are (or were) fought for a good cause. If it wasn’t for the American Revolution, we’d all still be living under English rule. Few people have a problem with out role in World War I or World War II. In fact there are some that think we should have joined World War II sooner.

So it isn’t war that we’re opposed to, not really. At least not most of us. It’s war for no good reason. It’s war without a real purpose. It’s the senseless death of our young people that we’re opposed to – as well we should be.

This month we’ll be discussing some facets of war and how they affect us as Americans.

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