The Hellhole of War

 

Like it or not, war is about death and killing.  Sugarcoat it and all it does is make killing sweeter.  Yet some politicians.statesman try to make it sound like surgery, getting rid of a cancer.It would be nice if war was that simple. 

For centuries people have been killing each other in any manner or form available to them.  The desired end result was to kill someone or groups of some ones.

Fold staple, spindle and mutilate is what the armies were about.  Kill more people then they could kill.  Chop them to pieces, leave the dead lying for the varmints to dine on them.

Yet we glorify some of these killing monsters.  The Visigoths were probably some of nastiest people when it came to war.  Yet they are featured in a commercial for a bank credit card.  These nasty goths were one of the reasons for the collapse of the Roman Empire. 

Out of the north these predators raged, pi;;aging villages, destroying them, burnt to the ground.  Raping the women, to the victors go the spoils, enslaving some of the children.   All others, were decapitated, mutilated or destroyed in some manner.  For these tactics, the Visigoths became very feared. These deadly reputation became their trademark and people would flee in the advance of these terrors.

The Ottomans tried to conquer the world but did not have much success in Eastern Europe.  When the Turks began their northward advance they met some Hungarians, led by a Prince called Vlad.  The first wave of the Turks was repulsed.  Seeing that the Ottomans were regrouping, Vlad order his soldiers to gather up all the Turks they could find.  All these Turks were impaled on a stake and mounted across the path of the advancing Turks.

When the advancing Ottoman army came on their countrymen impaled on stakes they fled and went back to Turkey.  Vlad’s plan had worked.  Over 30,000 Turks had been impaled and mounted on a vast plain.  It was a great intimidation and the Turks left them alone.

To gloss over war, loses lots of its impact.  The idea is to win and lots of the early tribes understood that the nastier they were the easier it became for them to overrun other tribes.  Their reputation preceded them.  They wanted to leave bodies strewn around, mutilated, decapitated, dead women and children.  The uglier the scene the more feared they became.

There was a tribe in the SW US that preyed on others.  When they need goods or supplies they raided neighboring tribes, stealing their food, clothing and animals.  What ever they needed they took.  The women were raped and often became sex slaves.  Today the Navajos are regaled as being a peace loving group of Indians.  Yet they did very little work but go on raiding sorties of other Indian tribes.  Even today they are a very aggressive people and are still feared by some of their neighboring Indians.  Yet they had a reputation that others feared.

It is this very thing that the terrorists base their style on, fear.  They also show disdain for others for there have been no severe consequences for them to be afraid of.  Until there becomes some consequences the terrorists fear, they will continue to operate as they have.  Until they fear us, they will not leave us alone.

It is a hard choice, one many do not want to make.  They continue to sit under the mushroom and gloss things over.

Then if we are going to war, be willing to go to war,  people will be killed, that is what war is all about.

 

It’s a Crazy World

 

Man killing his fellow man, so are there any other headlines?  Then this is an age old story, chasing all the way back to a couple of brothers, Abel and Cain.  Seems we don’t listen to our past very well.

 

There were the gang killings,  Then the Middle East chemical barrage, the Egyptians embroiling each other. 

 

When there are mass killings, the media lights flash all over.  Seems they love the gory details of blood being spilt.

 

WMD, was ballyhooed by the media, now people are being killed by WMD.  So what is the complicit part of the media?  Should the media’s failure to truthful on chemical weapons them guilty of killing others.  The media likes to have guilt by association or non knowing.  So, the media said there were none, does that make them a party to the mass killings? 

Then there is the UN and their inspectors.  Refusing to really get in and inspect certain areas.  Should the UN be charged as being part of these killings?  Failure to do something is just as heinous as doing the dastardly deeds of killing. 

Then, why do people need to be killed?

Killing someone is the ultimate form of power and control.  To eliminate some one by killing them gives the killer a good bully pulpit of controlling.  So if the USA goes over and kills people, will the country be guilty of murder, manslaughter, genocide, what is the country trying to control over there?

 

Power and Control

Is what a dictator uses to control his population and killing opponents is but one way the dictator tries to control the population.

 

What kind of country are we becoming?  It appears we are no longer a loving group of people that cares for others?

A Part of Life…… Accept it

 

As I sit here typing this post the snow is ending.  A blanket of white covers the ground.  Well welcomed moisture.  There are many who don’t like snow, they curse it and plain ol get mad.  It is one of those gifts from God to nourish the ground.  Being a Christian I accept that and thank God for His gift to me.  God also gave me gifts to deal with this bit of adversity, it just takes a while to understand that. 

Then there are lots of things that happen life that are even more unsettling.  Death causes so much grief but it happens.  God did not make us to be eternal.  He gave us but a few moments on earth.  So when that period ends I will go off to another phase in God’s creation.

Even the devil is a part of God’s earth.  The devil go hither and yon tempting mankind with all sorts of things.  Many succumb to these temptations.  People steal, brutalize and kill other people sometimes in massive numbers.  It has been happening for centuries.  It also presents one of the toughest questions for the God fearing person, “How does killing fit in God’s scheme?”

I can only speculate, for it is one of the mysteries of life but it happens.  God gives me tools to help deal with these tragedies and  expects to go on with life.  He also expects me to forgive the perpetrators.  That is another tough one for many, to forgive the hate of others that result in death to the people of God’s creation.

Yet it is a Biblical command to forgive others.  But to forget is another aspect, for that seldom happens. 

So when I hear about the acts of terrorism, I fully expect it.  It is just when, where and how bad will it be.  I pray for the victims and hope they will have the comfort of God’s grace.  For God gives peace like a river and his peace surpasses all understanding.  Like grace, one has but to accept it.

Mass killings are not unusual in history.  Ever since man picked up the club, others have been killed for the purpose of control and hate.   Gang warfare kills more people in one day then the bombing in Boston.  Look how many were killed by cars in a  day.  We are very adept at killing ourselves in various manners.

One of the things that bothers me is how history is taught in schools, or lack of being taught.  The mass killing of conflict are glossed over by the books of history, for the most part.  Children can not deal with that type of violence, is the excuse.

The romans killed millions of people as they conquered the world.  Then there is the lions and the  Christians.  Roman soldiers pillaged villages, killing the men and raping the women.  It is a story that still goes on in parts of the world.

Knowing how brutal man can be, prepares me for the inevitable.  It also helps to keep me alert to things around me.  I have seen some pretty nasty and ugly things during my tenure on this planet but life goes on.  Am I cold and indifferent, not really but I am realistic and pragmatic.

Why do some remain calm and others go off the end into collapse?

 

 

Death and Dying

 

Every time some one I know passes on I pause for a bit and ponder.  A moment of sorrow yet it is joy for no longer are they in this world.  Behind is their loved ones, family, relatives and friends.  Over the years as I edge closer to the end it gives me pause.  I have lost family and friends much younger then I and wonderment crosses the thoughts.

I have watched death at bedside that was like an eternity.  Then there are those that are here and a moment later are gone.  In all its shapes, death has its own life, a style that is unique.  Go for the gusto many say, or the others who want to live forever.  The extremes tugging at the ends of the string.  Some trying to stretch life like an elastic band.  Others who defy the Grim reaper.

Left behind are the living.  Grief and sorrow fill their lives for a time.  The closer the attachment is the longer the sorrow lingers.  For the real close family member a void is left that is not filled.  Coping with life becomes a journey for many that have lost very close ones.

The wail of the ambulance rolls over the noises of life, the hammer of the chopper as it flies in.  Hope that broken parts can be mended.  Sometimes the damage is beyond repair.  Comfort is given as much as possible, pain is eased, people are called it is not pleasant times.  The hospice is prepared.  Now what, a junction is reached, decisions to be made.  In the worst of times, that one moment that one has not prepared for nor expected, is on the doorstep. 

We are but passengers on the spaceship earth for a short journey, It is a quote I have heard at times.  It is so appropriate.  In the scheme of things my time here is limited.  I may be able to delay the inevitable but I can not stop it. 

To that end I justify death.  For many it is merciful, others, should of not happened.  But happen, that it does.