"Why I am Obsessed With War" by Harry Browne (f**king brilliant article!)

[Sandpiper]

<snip>

Troops don’t sacrifice. Only individuals can sacrifice. For some of them, the sacrifice is a year out of their lives. For others, the sacrifice is in living for a year or more in constant fear and danger.

But for too many, the sacrifice is one’s life. The loss of one’s whole life.

That’s not the same as giving a tenth of your income to the church, or working 15 hours a week in a soup kitchen, or spending a day a week helping out at a nursing home. When you sacrifice your life, you give up everything. The world has ended. What you were no longer exists. No more life, no more love, no more music, no more sports, no more breathing, no more interest in anything.

And when you’ve sacrificed your life, it no longer matters whether Iraq is "liberated" or oppressed, because you don’t exist any more. It no longer matters whether George Bush is a great leader or a megalomaniac, because you no longer have a life with which to be affected by it. You are no more.

George Bush can speak cavalierly about such sacrifices. He can say "freedom is always worth it." He can speak with gratitude about such sacrifices – because he is making no sacrifice whatsoever.

<snip>

Yes, I’m obsessed with war.

I’m obsessed with war because I love life.

<snip>

http://www.lewrockwell.com/browne/browne30.html

[Maraya1969]

1. I LOVE this one

Only a psychopath would stand in the midst of thousands of security guards and speak of "the force of human freedom."

[dbeach]

2. bush family makes wars a business

and thus try to legitimize wars..Real coincidence that bush has so many different business deals ..call it bushincidences that do only harm to humanity..there are no bush deals that benefit humanity..
ITS ALL ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE AND thats the coffin and profits for bush..and his corporat elites

[tk2kewl]

3. I read it. And I concur, it is brilliant.

:kick:

[kris10ep]

4. Journalistic Brilliance!!

It's articles like these that make me so proud of how I feel and believe . I am a blue person trapped in a red state, and sometimes it wears on you constantly having your values and thoughts questioned. Mr. Browne, however, is one of those people who encourages me in the uphill battle.

Thanks for sharing!!

[Maraya1969]

5. I had a conversation with a Bush supporter about the war

and when I brought up the fact that thousands of Iraq children were being killed he said, "So what?, they are just going to grow up to be terrorists."

I don't know how people can distance themselves so efficiently from other people's sufferings. This man's statement sounded very "Hitler like". They believe that certain people do not have the same right to life that they do. Even in our justice system we allow a group of individuals to determine if a person is worthy of life. The strange thing is one of the largest proponents of this type of thinking are fundamentalist Christians. And THEY are the ones that believe that if a person is not a "BORN AGAIN" Christian, that person will suffer an eternity in Hell.

One would think that, having such beliefs they would want to keep all people alive just so they have a chance at being "BORN AGAIN" and escaping eternal damnation.

I believe that there is a real pathology going on in most fundamental Christians. I suppose that is why there are support groups to help people get away from the whole movement.

[Jokerman]

9. Sick Minds

I reached the same point recently with a pro-war person. He insisted that "every single Iraqi who died at the hands of us troops deserved to die". How fucked up is that?

He used to be a friend but with that statement any shred of respect I may have had for him is now gone.

[indepat]

6. And neither are his major patrons

[savistocate]

7. No sacrifice whatsoever --but clearly gain, major material gain.

Hollow political gain of a hollow sick soul.

[VioletLake]

8. Great article... Thanks for posting it.

It's nice to know that we have allies outside the Left.

[jbfam4]

10. We are the terrorists....great article.. thanks for posting.

And they pay no attention to the fact that in the process of "ending tyranny in our world" they are imposing a new tyranny in their own country – our country.

[tavalon]

11. When I listened to the Inaugural speech

I kept thinking that the Antichrist that I had been taught about as a child (yes, I was raised Southern Baptist. I got over it) was supposed to be so smart and yet clearly, here he is and he's really, really stupid. Then I remembered that others wrote his speech and that Cheney is actually the Antichrist. Bush is merely a puppet and a minion.

I'm glad I no longer believe that rot, but I'll tell you, if it is true, we are truly heading into the end times.

[tk2kewl]

12. kick

:kick: and nominate

[mattclearing]

13. I like it. More touchy feely than I'm accustomed to from Browne...N/T

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

14. Great read!

He expresses what I feel perfectly...... and I don't feel well about any of this.