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Memorial Day 2010 And The Realities Of The Causes Of War The day before Memorial Day I was engaged in an online debate about war. I was questioning the legitimacy of the war in Iraq when a serviceman posted a response where he felt insulted that I would be doing something like this on this weekend. And this was my response. “Jason it is because I honor your service as well as the service of the members of my family and all that Americans that are serving endless deployments in Iraq & Afghanistan as well as those who have died in other wars that I think we should honestly examine why we find ourselves nation building on the other side of the world. Maybe those people you encounter wouldn't be so glad to see you if we hadn't helped a brutal dictator like Sadam get and maintain power. After the Iranian revolution we encouraged and aided him in his brutal invasion of Iran. Power that included weapons of mass destruction that we know he used. That we knew were destroyed before we invaded. Maybe they wouldn’t be so glad to see us if we hadn’t tricked him into invading Kuwait and then left him in power while punishing the population. They’ve been so screwed over for the past fifty years they’d be happy to see anyone. Maybe if the western powers hadn't spent the first 60 years of the 20th century drawing up the map of the Middle East we wouldn’t be over there. These aren't conspiracy theories it's history. If we'd just let these people determine what their own countries and government should be (the right of self determination) you might not have to over there serving. For over one hundred years we have been exporting not our highest ideals to other countries but death and destruction in the name of unfettered capitalism. You can dress it up with whatever kind of holier than thou platitudes that you want but it all boils down to money. If you can offer me any proof that what I’m saying isn’t true than you should thank me and all the other loyal Americans for using our freedom of speech this to speak up on your behalf. Especially this weekend. We speak up for you and get crapped on for it and a whole media industry full of chicken hawks makes a fortune out of attacking out patriotism. And I’m also speaking up for my soon to be 18 year old son who I’m sure the war machine will soon be needing once we get into Iran & N. Korea. And it will be the perfect trick when the Dems bring back the draft. Don’t take my word listen to people like General Butler, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ron Paul. It’s all a cynical adaptation by the corporations to use the religious/political philosophy called manifest destiny. It provided for the violent expansion of white people across a broad swath of North America in the first hundred years following indolence. And once we hit California we just kept going. This is just history it’s all there if you look around. If I’m wrong about any of this by all means enlighten me. I’d love to hear an intelligent response. So peace my brother and thanks for yours and all the others who serve(ed). If you’re in combat keep your head down and your powder dry. Stay safe and come home. We need you here.” So far after the response from the right has been a thundering silence. And I’ve found that usually to be the case. Once you get past the platitudes and childish insults that is the usual response the right wingers don’t have anything else to base their position on. I’m not taking part in a conspiracy theory by saying most of the wars that have been fought over the last one hundred years haven’t been necessary and have been fought to improve the wealth and power of the major corporations. It’s just history and this video is filled with voices from our history maybe we should pay closer attention and ask ourselves is it worth it? Or isn’t there a better way? Isn’t this worth at least discussing? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4zy2n7V4To added by: MindsiMedia