Peace

Being as how it would be nearly impossible to write an entry and ignore the fact that the United States is at war with Iraq (finally), I’m not even going to try.

As I’ve said many times, I was getting extremely sick of the constant barrage of media coverage over the diplomatic futility and foreplay that was going on. When I heard of the first cruise missile attack, I was a bit enthusiastic, but was let down when I saw how little we were actually doing the first night.

Then yesterday I got to listen to the play-by-play all day while I was at work, although after the initial events tapered off and the reports got repetitive, I was let down again. It wasn’t as bad as when we were standing there wondering when it was going to happen, but I was just like, “That’s it?”

So today came and again I listened intently as the announcers tried to describe the scene as bombs and missiles were hitting Baghdad. The reporters would hold their phones or microphones up like they thought that the sound would give people an idea of what was going on when in fact it sounded more like being in a car during a hail storm.

You know the old song from the Vietnam days that goes, “War, ha, huh, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.”? Well I have to disagree with it. Put aside all the other reasons that have been given to justify it, and let me show you just how selfish I am. I think war is a great distraction.

Do you know that ever since the war started I haven’t once been plagued by all the thoughts that pop into my head without warning, and sometimes find their way into diary entries? It’s true. War is something that has been able to hold my attention and shut down the part of my brain that thinks of all this stuff that I hate knowing once I’ve thought it.

Unfortunately we are still having anti-war protests all over the place. These protesters are acting just like the man they support; just like Saddam, they refuse to realize they’ve lost, and in fact lost before they even began.

I saw a bumper sticker, as well as a protest sign a day ago that said “Peace is patriotic.” In some situations that may be true, but in some situations it may be wrong. Along the same lines, war can be patriotic, but doesn’t always have to be. But I highly doubt that many of the “peace protesters” (or perhaps I’d be more accurate if I said Bush protesters) have even a sliver of knowledge what true patriotism is. Perhaps they need to find out.

Then again, that doesn’t really matter because patriotism really has nothing to do with this whole situation. We aren’t fighting a war to be patriotic, we’re eliminating a possible threat to ourselves (among other things). And so what if we have more than one reason to do it? All we’d really need is one reason, but if we have a list we’re just that much more justified.

Another thing these protesters fail to realize is that they are not marching for peace. They are marching for pacifism. Pacifism is when people are against war no matter what. Even if they are personally threatened by an enemy, a pacifist will bend over and take it rather than fight. This is what the so-called peace protesters are.

You see, peace is not just the absence of war. If these people were truly as caring and concerned as they say they are, they would be protesting the massive human rights violations by Saddam, as well as many other instances in other countries all over the globe. If they truly did care about people like they want to be portrayed as doing, then they would seek peace for all peoples.

But alas, they didn’t care enough to protest until Bush decided to do something, so they formed anti-Bush rallies and disguised them as peace protests.

From the coverage that they are getting in the media, it appears that the anti-war/Bush people are in the majority. Yet polls taken every day since the war started show that Americans approve of, or favor, Bush between 2 to 1 all the way up to 3 out of 4. I think there may be a reason for this.

Ever notice how there are always people who are ready to protest the war? Be it 7:00AM, 12 noon, or 6:00PM, protesters are ready to protest. This is my hypothesis of why this is, which is why their faint, hoarse whisper is turned into a roar by the megaphone of the media.

First, protesters recruit and attempt to influence high school and college kids/people. Many of those in this age group are still in their natural rebellious age range. Given the proper prodding and organization, you can most likely get a group of people in this age range to protest anything from war to the extinction of the pointed horny toad. And since they are in school all day, they can call walking out of class a form of “protest” (although who really gives a damn if kids leave their classes? No one I know). And thus these people can seem to magnify their numbers.

Second, I highly doubt that a good deal of these people have real jobs. I think many of them, if they had to fill out a form and put down their occupation, would have to put down “professional activist.” These are the same people who live in old trees that are being threatened to be cut down to make room for a building, or who climb in a rubber boat to try and stop a whaling ship, or who (hehe, stupid girl) think they can stop a bulldozer by standing in front of it. The reason that they can be around to protests and rallies at all times of the day and night is because protesting IS THEIR JOB.

Anywhose, there’s my thoughts for the day. Enjoy.

(And if you don’t and wish to try to protest in order to change my views, I will shoot you on sight)

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Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail

Once you provoke her, rattling of her tail

Never begins it, never, but once engaged…

Never surrenders, showing the fangs of rage

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Don’t tread on me

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So be it

Threaten no more

To secure peace is to prepare for war

So be it

Settle the score

Touch me again for the words that you will hear evermore…

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Metallica