Mr. Rather, I appreciate the articles you've been writing. I look forward to reading them and I must say that even at my mature age, I am still learning. Thank you. This particular writing makes me think of the song, "War, What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing," by Edwin Starr back in the early 70's. Such true and powerful lyrics.
War is a tragedy because of the greed of man and the need to control. Especially for self centered interests. It's always the innocent, that pay the price.
The situation in Ukraine is different because they are fighting for their democracy and freedom.
The same situation is happening here in the United States. We are fighting to salvage our democracy. People must let their voice be heard and VOTE! , because democracy is IRRERPLACABLE.
There is no other way I can find to reach you...Please look into this: I did not receive the September Steady or the one before that although I value the writing and am a subscriber... Lyn Shaw
What part does the weapons-industry play in ongoing conflicts all over the globe? Why don't the financial reports watch that industry as closely as they do the fossil fuel industry?
There was a popular song during the Vietnam War by Edwin Starr. The title was War. It opens with the lines, War what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Just as true today as it was back then.
(Disconnected response to Lynn RC:) I am with Paul Oum, Manhattan Project scientist, who authored the statement against nuclear bombs, which numerous Manhattan Project scientists signed at their reunion. However, he personally concluded that without the Hiroshima bomb, US troops would have suffered many more casualties. He thought that Japan should have been given more than three days to surrender, and that we should not have then bombed Nagasaki. The scientists had not foreseen the extent of the damage of the bombs. See online: "Hiroshima: Memoir of a Bomb Maker," Paul Olum, HNN,,1983. As for President Putin, the Russians need to save even themselves by taking him out, preferably by imprisonment, rather than assassination. When people are trying to kill others for no good reason, the aggressors leave their victims no option other than justified retribution in self defense.
Many wars could be avoided before they start. It requires bold action on the part of those who do not want war. The Helsinki Failure has given the world the Ukraine war and a powder keg in the USA that could become the second civil war. Looking back to 1934 - when Hitler was released from prison the world was given a choice to avoid WWII and millions of deaths. No one acted - and global destruction ensued. Cowardice will neither save the planet nor prevent the next war.
You mention Russia being a major energy supplier to Western Europe, but truth is it's a major supplier to ALL of Europe. I am living in the Czech Republic and we just as well are bracing for a very cold and expensive winter. It's one more stroke of bad luck after another for us, but truthfully, I would rather Europe disengage with Russia now than later. It's despicable that Europe at large chose to involve itself with a dictator like Putin for so long. Now it's finally coming to a head and we see how Europe suffers when it finally says enough is enough. I wonder when the US will do the same with Israel, with Saudi Arabia, and with China, all human rights abusers and ideological enemies of a free, peaceful world.
We teach our children to be kind and gentle and helpful and polite and understanding and fair. And also to recognize what a bully is and not just to avoid them but to stand up to them when necessary. And that civilization depends on following the rules and the law. In other words we teach and preach the values of love and understanding and peace, and against hatred and selfishness and aggression and fear and war.
By extension this should apply to our own morality and our community and country and the world.
So how did we end up with an ex-president who reminds many of us of a thirteen year old schoolyard bully who never grew up? And more politicians who campaign using fear and bigotry and hatred and racism and sexism? It boggles the mind.
If you take a look in all of the war's throughout history you will find religion is inclusive of all of them, so what is it about religion that precipitates all wars.
"With that in mind, we can all concentrate on our hopes, not our fears: our hopes that Putin and his enablers will be taught a lesson that autocrats and would-be autocrats should all hear with clarity — the future is not yours".
So the smart , brave, and tough Ukraine military (with the outside help, of over 50 billion in advanced arms) have given Putin something to think about. On the other hand , the US having been beaten after 20 years of war with the the lightly armed Taliban (no 50 billion infusion of weapons) seems to act like the Taliban never laid a glove on us. We're playing tough guy with China with bravado like "Don't tread on me in the North China Sea." You'd think that having just been clobbered by skinny little guy, we'd think twice about asking the big guy at the bar to step outside. War is a tragedy, but we look so hard for the next one that you'd think it 's "somewhere over the rainbow".
War is indeed a tragedy. It is also big business. I recommend “War is a Racket” by Smedley Butler (who was a Marine Corps General and a two-time Medal of Honor recipient).
When all is said and done - yes, there may be dancing in the streets and drinking, and proclamations of victory, but the reality is, that for everyone, there are generations and families that will bear the physical injuries and the mind dealt atrocities for all their lives and you know those grow in into the next generations in ways that no one can foretell. Health care and mental health care systems will be nearly broken to care for these and no one will speak of it until later.
The heroics of resistance may give way to PTSD but will anyone be free to speak of that in the cultural conversation and pull of a world wide "atta boy" narrative? It's never happened before. Indeed, war is tragedy.
Your point well taken, is that war is destructive. In war, we humans lose our most important resources; human beings. We also lose part of our earth, at a time when our natural resources and distribution of them, is important.
The other point of certainty that you establish in your article is that war is for no, 'good reason'. War is most certainly outdated. Victory most assuredly, is not measured in, 'square miles conquered', in today's world.
War and destruction is sloppiness to say the least. One would expect world leaders that call themselves, intelligent, or educated, could demonstrate this through creativity. It would seem that people would expect this in any civilized nation.
A few of today's world leaders behave as if the are acting the part of Red Skelton's character, 'Freddy The Freeloader'. Wishing perhaps, but unrealistically of course, that their behavior could be altered by visiting the mailbox and reading the hopefully anticipated, "letter from mama".
The situation some of our world leaders find themselves in, is a moral problem as well as a lack of integrity, and it shows decadence in the extreme, not to mention a wiltering and vague sense of self respect.
One has to respect one's self self before one can even remotely begin to respect others.
I agree that most powerful leaders are bimbos and vampires at the same time. They suck the blood out of humanity and the life out of humans with their destructivity. I have nothing more to add.
War generates vast amounts of money. President Eisenhower warned about this in the 50's. Nobody cares. Everyone likes money and few care about how it is generated .
“It is good that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it.”
Robert E. Lee
Mr. Rather, I appreciate the articles you've been writing. I look forward to reading them and I must say that even at my mature age, I am still learning. Thank you. This particular writing makes me think of the song, "War, What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing," by Edwin Starr back in the early 70's. Such true and powerful lyrics.
Mr. Rather thank you , for your
great commentary and perspective.
War is a tragedy because of the greed of man and the need to control. Especially for self centered interests. It's always the innocent, that pay the price.
The situation in Ukraine is different because they are fighting for their democracy and freedom.
The same situation is happening here in the United States. We are fighting to salvage our democracy. People must let their voice be heard and VOTE! , because democracy is IRRERPLACABLE.
There is no other way I can find to reach you...Please look into this: I did not receive the September Steady or the one before that although I value the writing and am a subscriber... Lyn Shaw
What part does the weapons-industry play in ongoing conflicts all over the globe? Why don't the financial reports watch that industry as closely as they do the fossil fuel industry?
There was a popular song during the Vietnam War by Edwin Starr. The title was War. It opens with the lines, War what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Just as true today as it was back then.
(Disconnected response to Lynn RC:) I am with Paul Oum, Manhattan Project scientist, who authored the statement against nuclear bombs, which numerous Manhattan Project scientists signed at their reunion. However, he personally concluded that without the Hiroshima bomb, US troops would have suffered many more casualties. He thought that Japan should have been given more than three days to surrender, and that we should not have then bombed Nagasaki. The scientists had not foreseen the extent of the damage of the bombs. See online: "Hiroshima: Memoir of a Bomb Maker," Paul Olum, HNN,,1983. As for President Putin, the Russians need to save even themselves by taking him out, preferably by imprisonment, rather than assassination. When people are trying to kill others for no good reason, the aggressors leave their victims no option other than justified retribution in self defense.
Many wars could be avoided before they start. It requires bold action on the part of those who do not want war. The Helsinki Failure has given the world the Ukraine war and a powder keg in the USA that could become the second civil war. Looking back to 1934 - when Hitler was released from prison the world was given a choice to avoid WWII and millions of deaths. No one acted - and global destruction ensued. Cowardice will neither save the planet nor prevent the next war.
You mention Russia being a major energy supplier to Western Europe, but truth is it's a major supplier to ALL of Europe. I am living in the Czech Republic and we just as well are bracing for a very cold and expensive winter. It's one more stroke of bad luck after another for us, but truthfully, I would rather Europe disengage with Russia now than later. It's despicable that Europe at large chose to involve itself with a dictator like Putin for so long. Now it's finally coming to a head and we see how Europe suffers when it finally says enough is enough. I wonder when the US will do the same with Israel, with Saudi Arabia, and with China, all human rights abusers and ideological enemies of a free, peaceful world.
We teach our children to be kind and gentle and helpful and polite and understanding and fair. And also to recognize what a bully is and not just to avoid them but to stand up to them when necessary. And that civilization depends on following the rules and the law. In other words we teach and preach the values of love and understanding and peace, and against hatred and selfishness and aggression and fear and war.
By extension this should apply to our own morality and our community and country and the world.
So how did we end up with an ex-president who reminds many of us of a thirteen year old schoolyard bully who never grew up? And more politicians who campaign using fear and bigotry and hatred and racism and sexism? It boggles the mind.
The problem is Religion.
If you take a look in all of the war's throughout history you will find religion is inclusive of all of them, so what is it about religion that precipitates all wars.
2/2
"With that in mind, we can all concentrate on our hopes, not our fears: our hopes that Putin and his enablers will be taught a lesson that autocrats and would-be autocrats should all hear with clarity — the future is not yours".
So the smart , brave, and tough Ukraine military (with the outside help, of over 50 billion in advanced arms) have given Putin something to think about. On the other hand , the US having been beaten after 20 years of war with the the lightly armed Taliban (no 50 billion infusion of weapons) seems to act like the Taliban never laid a glove on us. We're playing tough guy with China with bravado like "Don't tread on me in the North China Sea." You'd think that having just been clobbered by skinny little guy, we'd think twice about asking the big guy at the bar to step outside. War is a tragedy, but we look so hard for the next one that you'd think it 's "somewhere over the rainbow".
War is indeed a tragedy. It is also big business. I recommend “War is a Racket” by Smedley Butler (who was a Marine Corps General and a two-time Medal of Honor recipient).
When all is said and done - yes, there may be dancing in the streets and drinking, and proclamations of victory, but the reality is, that for everyone, there are generations and families that will bear the physical injuries and the mind dealt atrocities for all their lives and you know those grow in into the next generations in ways that no one can foretell. Health care and mental health care systems will be nearly broken to care for these and no one will speak of it until later.
The heroics of resistance may give way to PTSD but will anyone be free to speak of that in the cultural conversation and pull of a world wide "atta boy" narrative? It's never happened before. Indeed, war is tragedy.
Your point well taken, is that war is destructive. In war, we humans lose our most important resources; human beings. We also lose part of our earth, at a time when our natural resources and distribution of them, is important.
The other point of certainty that you establish in your article is that war is for no, 'good reason'. War is most certainly outdated. Victory most assuredly, is not measured in, 'square miles conquered', in today's world.
War and destruction is sloppiness to say the least. One would expect world leaders that call themselves, intelligent, or educated, could demonstrate this through creativity. It would seem that people would expect this in any civilized nation.
A few of today's world leaders behave as if the are acting the part of Red Skelton's character, 'Freddy The Freeloader'. Wishing perhaps, but unrealistically of course, that their behavior could be altered by visiting the mailbox and reading the hopefully anticipated, "letter from mama".
The situation some of our world leaders find themselves in, is a moral problem as well as a lack of integrity, and it shows decadence in the extreme, not to mention a wiltering and vague sense of self respect.
One has to respect one's self self before one can even remotely begin to respect others.
I agree that most powerful leaders are bimbos and vampires at the same time. They suck the blood out of humanity and the life out of humans with their destructivity. I have nothing more to add.
War generates vast amounts of money. President Eisenhower warned about this in the 50's. Nobody cares. Everyone likes money and few care about how it is generated .