Memorial Day is for Remembering Troops, Soldiers, & Veterans of WAR
I appreciate that martial mentalities tend to impose their wishes on other via WAR.
Thus, I write today about the realities of war. Here we shall acknowledge the elemental bellicose nature of some humans. Among us there are sadists and others that enjoy the pain they cause. They feed on it… for a time, until their turn comes and it always comes. Hitler was a happy camper until it was his turn to die.
WAR is very big business for a very few elites. The LORDS of WAR benefit from causing and sending boys and girls on the brink of adulthood into traumatizing situations. Veterans are routinely ignored and denied benefits. We see them begging on the streets in every major city.
Yet, let us not forget, that WAR has its benefits to humanity, too… including and not limited; to the improvements in medical technology, communications, and the arts associated with weapons, strategy, and battle are mesmerizing. Dazzling is EVIL and in its intricate glory it can seduce us. Of course! WAR is THE Siren. Yet, WAR is a MALE GOD! Always, searching for battle, looking to destroy innocence, seeing vulnerability and wishing to take advantage, yet… WAR is ever so willing to impersonate a lovely little juicy ripe maiden, beckoning the—always looking to penetrate–– - warm wet youth, with its toxic… yet, perhaps… like chemotherapy for humanity, its viciously curative seed. We are learning that perhaps the cost of human life is worth more than individual glory. Perhaps our leaders, men like Putin, and Obama, might be aware that… humans deserve defending, protecting, and that imposing laws and neglecting to enforce human rights is a crime.
War is old as prostitution. War is the child of Chronos, time. Born to burn… War learns quickly and humanity has benefitted from the fire, the roast meat, the protein… yet, when will it end? Is it possible that we might all evolve and out grow our bad habits together?
Perhaps, I might become a vegetarian… someday. I’m not ready for that change, yet. But, I am ready for letting go of other limiting habits and I know I will never be perfect. Yet, I know that by taking my own bags to the grocer’s and by planting food in my yard, by being true to my word, by reading, and writing, and sharing of the bounty that is my American Life, my privilege and joy to be here in the United States of America, celebrating today with a little poultry and sparkling wine. (YOU see, I’m NOT PERFECT.)
We are clearly designed for battle, sports, running, and long jumps. HUMANS are so beautiful. Everyone is priceless. Everyone has equal potential and equal rights in my book. Yet, I watch people make choices which end up necessitating their restriction. If you litter, please don’t visit my neighborhood. Everyone has value. Yet, many people cheapen themselves by not thinking, planning, and deciding to be GOOD. Yes, goodness, is what we ALL might aim for… the law might be less about prosecution and more about… LOVE. Yet… the system says that only a few are to be admired. Perhaps the human brain is wired to look to leaders, to bow to the strongest will. Perhaps… Yet, I continue to love a good fight, the campaign being rather glorious and fun; until brains and guts litter the battle fields, in desert sands, or wooded country; war breaks out and no one… knows who will… well… the generals now, they fight by remote control.
Be that as it may, Talkinggrid is an online cultural blog for people that are not particularly interested in mainstream media. Talkinggrid does not claim to be a source of TRUTH, but a source of various artists perspectives, or warm and fuzzy feeling emotional truths, and “intimate art chat,” on topics political, thereby personal, are routinely addressed here in a casual, informal, style which lends itself to conversation. WE are in conversation. (I listen. I write in response to my readers and I notice that YOU love the piece on Wes Anderson, by the way… I will write more on his films soon. I promise.)
Frau Kolb, the single author of all the content on this site is the persona of a New York City Native living in Southern California, looking at the world from the unique and always vivifying perspective of the true ARTIST. By and large, creative people are politically liberal, because most of us can see more than one side to any issue. I will speak for us when I say: we are not hetro-sexuals, we are not negroes, we are not white, or yellow… NO humans should never be reduced to a color chart that creates oppositional relationships. Race is the pulp fiction of genetics. Ethnicity, class, and other factors such as personal determination and social support determine humans ability to thrive. In other words, and for the record, BLACK is WHITE is WHATEVER, form life takes, it demands respect.
Repressive or aggressive policies taken by legislators hurt humans. The “WAR on DRUGS,” puts millions of undereducated Americans behind bars. Why not stop it and instead of “reparations,” which in some cases would only be fair, why not give people excellent educations, housing, medical care, and LOVE. It costs society more to imprison our own population when we could be helping our brothers and sisters to feel that they are (finally) WELCOME HOME.
Let us stop blaming the rich, the poor, the fat, the Chinese, the Germans, the Jews, the blacks, the WASPS, the gays, and/or whoever else we label “scapegoat,” lets get over that evil and lets LOVE the ugly and start taking responsibility for the day to day quality of our lives. If you look to celebrities and Stars for guidance, they are sure to let you down, stars are indifferent to you and your concerns. Grow up. Go shopping for organic food only, if you want the world to be better. You must invest time and energy in creating your own well being. NO ONE can or will do it for you. Therefore, stop with the frozen food and the quick car-meals. You must neglect the cheap fix of corporate junk food designed to KILL YOU. Anytime you eat a corporate snack you are feeding the machine that wants to pay people less than it costs them to join the “work force.”
Of course, these means that if you teach yourself to think: learn languages, do math, learn "scientific methods of inquiry,” you can immunize yourself from many of the obvious social traps. Yes… not everyone has raw IQ power, yet everyone could STOP WATCHING stupid shows, where killing and robbing are normalized, if not glorified, STOP Playing STUPID video Games, where dehumanizing others and killing is presented as a valid source of cheap thrills. Playing such games to “kill time,” kills your spirit and transforms you into a dreaded, “zombie.” Pornography is not sexy. Watching what is private and people being paid to… well; prostitution should never be a crime… but there should be no reason for anyone to feel forced into it.
Women, girls, and boys all over the world are prey for those that seek to impose their penetrating glances on others. We must respond to protect those that are vulnerable and to treat with respect all humans, regardless of their behavior. Human rights are sacred. (Some might say, that eating meat amounts to murder. This is a point I ponder…. yet, farm animals are born and bred to be eaten… they wouldn’t live without farming. Cows, for example, make great tasting food, yet… they seem well… I’m not sure… I see the human in my dog. He is a great person… so we can discuss this further, while I continue to eat bacon, I do so with an eye to quality of life for animals, as is the promise of organic farming… less meat… yes. That is healthier, anyway…)
“Memorial Day Chicken,” Photo by Dr. HC Kolb©, all rights reserved, 2014
You may not want to admit to yourself the incredible amount of power you have. This is why the super elites control you with your impulse shopping and credit card debt. While you are throwing out books, I am collecting. Because I know that my library is my garden, where I cultivate peace.
Yet, this does not mean that I don’t value and admire military humans for their courage and yes willingness to go to battle. I believe in WAR when it means defending humans. Thus, when the United States went into WWII and defended the Jews. WE were heroes in that context. Yet, contexts change… I am a proud American, specifically New Yorker, yet, I have real issues with some of our nation’s institutional folly.
The under education of the American people will lead to its easy surrender to manipulation and invasion if it were to come to that. I hear young people talking and they are tired of being ignored, sent to die, and kill. They don’t see the point in fighting for oil and other out-dated resources.
Together we can take charge of reality and grow an new future which is in the way of the natives of the world; in harmony with nature and generous to ALL.
"Memorial Day Flowers for Mommy,” © Dr. HC KOLb, all rights reserved, 2014
Happy Memorial DAY!
Sincerely yours,
Frau Kolb & The Talkinggrid