Click Here to Read the Press Release
I’m so very grateful that we still have attorneys who have the clarity of mind to work and fight for individuals who express the freedom that still seems so obviously endowed to us all.
I just read an article about the circumstances involving a Mr. Faw and the Kings Mountain National Military Park. Without your assistance and concrete knowledge of our Constitution, Americans and rightfully, along with much of the world, would surely slip back into a state of suppression of individual rights.
Thank you again for working on behalf of freedom.
Sincerely,
Craig
This is a terrible setback from the United States Socialistic Regime. We're to the point where we have to ask nicely to please give us our rights back. And the answer is, "No, we need them right now, for what we're doing. But if we don't need them in the future, we'll be sure to let you use them." It is a sad day to see that kind of thing happen. And alarming. And no matter how vocal, it does no good so far.
Further, there are so many things on so many fronts that are occurring (and yet to occur!) in the Obama administration that it is mind-numbing to the legislators to hear from their constituents.
The effect on them is: "Everything we do is always wrong all the time, I'm going to stop listening." To me, their behavior is similar to Mordecai's imperative to Esther: Who knows but that you have come to position for such a time as this. And their behavior is similar: And if they perish seeking these permanent (?) changes to our nation, it is worth it to them. The difference is that Esther's cause was noble, and the current changes debase our nation. There isn't one thing to confront.
There aren't even just a dozen major problems. There are hundreds of encroachments. They come at us so fast that if we were to focus hard on just the top three and beat on them for the next four years for change, that would still leave 97 new ones (brushfires against freedom) being lit while we concentrate on just the few. Net effect would be that we lose anyway. Personally, I'm at my wits end about all of this. The only thing that makes sense is that God has decreed we shall face judgement and that he is letting our nation go the way it has chosen to go.
Usually, he lets the wickedness of the wicked blossom fully. It's not because he doesn't care, it because he has decided to judge it, often times. So he lets them go. Since in our wisdom as a nation we do not seek God but deliberately choose to believe lies, he is able to give us up to all sorts of things and our foolish minds become darkened. If that is the case, nothing I can do will change that. Everything I do has the net effect of changing nothing. It's overwhelming. What is not overwhelming is my trust in God. What does not bother me is people like you continuing to do the fine job you are doing. When we do what God wants us to do, our lives are never wasted.
I have taken to telling my boys recently: "God never wastes a life. If you put yourself fully in the Lord's hands, you can be absolutely certain that no matter what happens, he will never have wasted your life." Of course, like William Carey the missionary and his printing press house burning and flooding, it is hard to understand at the time the reasons in his providence for the events that are at odds with the whole purpose he felt God sent him for. But he continued on because the call doesn't change just because circumstances don't go our way. I loved reading "Heroes of the Faith: William Carey" from the YWAM folk. It helped me separate results from calling. So I am never overwhelmed to where I do not continue to write to my representatives. Until God tells me not to do so, I write.
And from time to time at the dinner table, I pray. God is trustworthy. But I also know his eyes roam to and fro throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. He often responds when we stand in the gap. He has the discretion to do so or not. But often, no one stands in the gap when he is willing. May we all stand in the gap as and when he calls us to and let him bless the results in ways we may never see on earth. Do not give up. Carry on. God never wastes a life, nor a court case given into his hands. God is good. All the time. Bill
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Changing Face of the Police and the Death of the Fourth Amendment
Click Here to Read the Commentary
Excellently written.
As you noted, more citizens are becoming aware of the militarization of the police. We were all shocked with the Indiana ruling recently.
But as a lot of others, I am lost as to what to do.
Once, in two cases where my twin daughters were the victims, I actually wrote the judge. The accused, being the son of an officer, was being treated excessively lenient by the prosecutor. I had known the prosecutor and the officer were friends, so I decided to make sure the courts knew more details. Wow what a difference that made. Almost an immediate transformation with the judge reprimanding the prosecutor.
Do you think the judges need more input from the citizenry?
Usually I don't hear about a case until it's over...
James
Changing society is reflected in language.
Notice police referring to private citizens as "civilians."
In fact, these are civilian law enforcement personnel, not military police officers.
Their use of language suggests they regard themselves as military (and dress and act the part).
Herman
there is saying going around-
when cops act like an occupying army, they will eventually be treated like one........
Superb analysis, John. Unfortunately, while accurately depicting our loss of liberty and now living in an environment in which we are rightfully fearful of those who are supposed to protect us, there is no kernel of hope that this can be halted or corrected. If the courts not only encourage this but support the destruction of our liberty, where can we turn?
Dark days. And more coming.
All the best -
Rob
In your article, you use the term "up in arms" loosely. While that is Jefferson's cure for today's problems, we just don't see it happening.
America desperately needs true leaders vs sideline commentators. When will you set down the pen and lead American patriots into action against the enemy?
Mark
Hi John,
I just read your article at LRC concerning the Patriot Act and the 4th amendment violations. I certainly share your concerns, however, the electronic eavesdropping on our private property was well established long before the Patriot Act. Our basic rights to privacy on our own property were eviscerated some time ago.
I’m genuinely concerned this will not end well. Someone will step across the line one too many times and something is going to happen. We’re human, there’s only so much we’ll tolerate before we act.
Sincerely,
Mark
IF COPS ARE SUPPOSED TO 'KNOW' THE LAW, THEN ONE MUST ASSUME THAT IF THEY INVADE YOUR HOME ILLEGALLY, THEY DO SO WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE.
SO, THEN ONE MUST FURTHER CONCLUDE THAT THIS RULING IS TO PROTECT THE COPS AND NOT THE CITIZENRY.
In the second case, the Indiana Supreme Court actually stepped beyond the constitutional parameters of the case before them to broadly rule in Barnes v. State that people don’t have the right to resist police officers who enter their homes illegally. The court rationalized their 3-2 ruling legitimizing any unlawful police entry into a home as a "public policy" decision. On its face, the case itself is relatively straightforward: An Indiana woman called 911 during an argument with her husband. When the police arrived, the man blocked and then shoved an officer who tried to enter his home without a warrant. Despite the fact that the wife told police her husband hadn’t hit her, the man was shocked with a stun gun and arrested. Insisting that it would be safer for all concerned to let police proceed even with an illegal action and sort it out later in court with a civil lawsuit, the court held that residents can’t resist police who enter their home – whatever the reason. The problem, of course, is that anything short of complete and utter acquiescence and compliance constitutes resistance. Thus, even the supposedly protected act of free speech – a simple "Wait, this is my home. What’s this about?" – constitutes resistance.
http://lewrockwell.com/whitehead/whitehead31.1.html
[Anonymous]
Dear Mr. Whitehead,
Your recent column published on LRC highlighted painful truths about the place where you and I live.
It is my belief that these changes ultimately stem from a persistently rising "social mood" (see www.socionomics.net for reference) that translated into astronomical levels of (misplaced) trust and complacency on the part of most individuals.
While "traditional" authoritarianism is associated with social mood declines (e.g. those signaled by the plunging stocks and economic conditions near 1917 Russia and the Post-Great-Depression period in Europe and North America), we seem to have grown a hybrid kind of soft-authoritarianism, one associated with Big Mother more than Big Brother.
I must assume you receive queries from individuals asking, "What are we to do?" I don't pretend to know how you respond, but my belief is that the only prudent thing to do is to make one's home a castle again via passive means, giving up on "words-on-paper" as a bulwark of our defense.
Two of the greatest dangers "regular" people now face are being the victim of vindictive prosecution or of a no-knock SWAT raid. Lives ruined and lives lost to these "clerical errors" are too numerous now to ignore.
While I know not what can be done to avoid the former, as you know the latter cannot be met with return force, no matter how satisfying such a contemplation may appear. To even "win" such a battle (shooting down the invaders before their return fire finds you) is obviously to lose the "war."
What one must do is bog down the invasion in slow-to-surmount obstacles. Since most data show those implementing "dynamic entry" do not relish the razor edges of broken windows and strongly prefer to use a battered-down door, it should be possible to reinforce a door to the point where their battering rams (and even "breaching rounds" from shotguns) require a siege instead of a smash-and-grab.
Having lost the element of surprise and shock, entering a home is apt to appear more risky than even these adrenalin-addled cowboys will relish.
I have yet to act on my thoughts, but I think individual initiative along these lines is far more productive than waiting for our neighbors and fellow citizens to withdraw their consent from the nascent police state our rulers erected while they dozed.
Best wishes,
Dave
Dear Sir:
I could not agree with you more in your recent column The Changing Face of the Police and the Death of the Fourth Amendment, which I read at LewRockwell.com. I firmly believe that this death began when Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist wrote that because of the magnitude of the problem of drunk driving, road blocks do not violate the Fourth Amendment. He had fallen hook, line and sinker for the propaganda spewed by MADD. MADD has also helped kill the Fifth, Sixth and Tenth Amendments in their attempt to bring back Prohibition.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Read
Mr. Whitehead,
Thank you for a GREAT and timely article. I have several concerns about the effects of this unlawful ruling. One of the things I have repeatedly read about this decision is that it applies only to searches when officers are pursuing drug investigations. I am not an attorney but I think this decision can be used by police to include practically any "exigent" search. That is to say that police will be using this decision routinely to search also for guns, suspicion of "stolen" goods, to search ones vehicle without consent and so forth, and those searches will be held to be lawful under the provisions of this decision.
I notice that we have yet to see the search warrant for the Guerena case in Tuscon which just occurred. The old provisions of the 4th were in effect at the time of that search.
I sincerely hope you will continue to give attention to this 4th amendment issue, as it is crucial to our way of life. I know that you are a Constitutional attorney and I have a question for you. I know that the judiciary is somewhat insulated from being removed because of some politicians petty power impulses, but I also know that they can be removed for the right cause. Do you think this Kentucky v. King decision opens the door for impeachment and removal of these justices?
For Liberty,
JD
Dear Mr. Whitehead:
What a sad commentary on the other "Conservative" justices, in the Kentucky v. King decision, when Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the lone dissenting vote. What happened to Thomas, Scalia, Roberts and Alito? Goodbye, Fourth Ammendment.
I read your article on http://lewrockwell.com.
Thanks for your time.
Best regards,
Mark
Sir:
We had this same problem a couple of centuries ago. Should the citizenry decide to handle it the same way, I think that the concept would spread across the country very quickly.
There was an incident in Arizona recently where a SWAT Team killed a former Marine in front of his wife and child. Medical teams were not permitted to assist the homeowner until after he was dead.
Such occurrences need to be corrected, either through the legal system, or outside of it.
Charles
This is a terrible setback from the United States Socialistic Regime. We're to the point where we have to ask nicely to please give us our rights back. And the answer is, "No, we need them right now, for what we're doing. But if we don't need them in the future, we'll be sure to let you use them." It is a sad day to see that kind of thing happen. And alarming. And no matter how vocal, it does no good so far.
Further, there are so many things on so many fronts that are occurring (and yet to occur!) in the Obama administration that it is mind-numbing to the legislators to hear from their constituents. The effect on them is: "Everything we do is always wrong all the time, I'm going to stop listening." To me, their behavior is similar to Mordecai's imperative to Esther: Who knows but that you have come to position for such a time as this. And their behavior is similar: And if they perish seeking these permanent (?) changes to our nation, it is worth it to them. The difference is that Esther's cause was noble, and the current changes debase our nation.
There isn't one thing to confront. There aren't even just a dozen major problems. There are hundreds of encroachments. They come at us so fast that if we were to focus hard on just the top three and beat on them for the next four years for change, that would still leave 97 new ones (brushfires against freedom) being lit while we concentrate on just the few. Net effect would be that we lose anyway.
Personally, I'm at my wits end about all of this. The only thing that makes sense is that God has decreed we shall face judgement and that he is letting our nation go the way it has chosen to go. Usually, he lets the wickedness of the wicked blossom fully. It's not because he doesn't care, it's because he has decided to judge it, often times. So he lets them go. Since in our wisdom as a nation we do not seek God but deliberately choose to believe lies, he is able to give us up to all sorts of things and our foolish minds become darkened.
If that is the case, nothing I can do will change that. Everything I do has the net effect of changing nothing. It's overwhelming.
What is not overwhelming is my trust in God. What does not bother me is people like you continuing to do the fine job you are doing. When we do what God wants us to do, our lives are never wasted. I have taken to telling my boys recently: "God never wastes a life. If you put yourself fully in the Lord's hands, you can be absolutely certain that no matter what happens, he will never have wasted your life." Of course, like William Carey the missionary and his printing press house burning and flooding, it is hard to understand at the time the reasons in his providence for the events that are at odds with the whole purpose he felt God sent him for. But he continued on because the call doesn't change just because circumstances don't go our way. I loved reading "Heroes of the Faith: William Carey" from the YWAM folk. It helped me separate results from calling. So I am never overwhelmed to where I do not continue to write to my representatives.
Until God tells me not to do so, I write. And from time to time at the dinner table, I pray. God is trustworthy. But I also know his eyes roam to and fro throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. He often responds when we stand in the gap. He has the discretion to do so or not. But often, no one stands in the gap when he is willing. May we all stand in the gap as and when he calls us to and let him bless the results in ways we may never see on earth. Do not give up. Carry on. God never wastes a life, nor a court case given into his hands. God is good. All the time.
Bill
Excellently written.
As you noted, more citizens are becoming aware of the militarization of the police. We were all shocked with the Indiana ruling recently.
But as a lot of others, I am lost as to what to do.
Once, in two cases where my twin daughters were the victims, I actually wrote the judge. The accused, being the son of an officer, was being treated excessively lenient by the prosecutor. I had known the prosecutor and the officer were friends, so I decided to make sure the courts knew more details. Wow what a difference that made. Almost an immediate transformation with the judge reprimanding the prosecutor.
Do you think the judges need more input from the citizenry?
Usually I don't hear about a case until it's over...
James
Changing society is reflected in language.
Notice police referring to private citizens as "civilians."
In fact, these are civilian law enforcement personnel, not military police officers.
Their use of language suggests they regard themselves as military (and dress and act the part).
Herman
there is saying going around-
when cops act like an occupying army, they will eventually be treated like one........
Superb analysis, John. Unfortunately, while accurately depicting our loss of liberty and now living in an environment in which we are rightfully fearful of those who are supposed to protect us, there is no kernel of hope that this can be halted or corrected. If the courts not only encourage this but support the destruction of our liberty, where can we turn?
Dark days. And more coming.
All the best -
Rob
In your article, you use the term "up in arms" loosely. While that is Jefferson's cure for today's problems, we just don't see it happening.
America desperately needs true leaders vs sideline commentators. When will you set down the pen and lead American patriots into action against the enemy?
Mark
Hi John,
I just read your article at LRC concerning the Patriot Act and the 4th amendment violations. I certainly share your concerns, however, the electronic eavesdropping on our private property was well established long before the Patriot Act. Our basic rights to privacy on our own property were eviscerated some time ago.
I’m genuinely concerned this will not end well. Someone will step across the line one too many times and something is going to happen. We’re human, there’s only so much we’ll tolerate before we act.
Sincerely,
Mark
IF COPS ARE SUPPOSED TO 'KNOW' THE LAW, THEN ONE MUST ASSUME THAT IF THEY INVADE YOUR HOME ILLEGALLY, THEY DO SO WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE.
SO, THEN ONE MUST FURTHER CONCLUDE THAT THIS RULING IS TO PROTECT THE COPS AND NOT THE CITIZENRY.
In the second case, the Indiana Supreme Court actually stepped beyond the constitutional parameters of the case before them to broadly rule in Barnes v. State that people don’t have the right to resist police officers who enter their homes illegally. The court rationalized their 3-2 ruling legitimizing any unlawful police entry into a home as a "public policy" decision. On its face, the case itself is relatively straightforward: An Indiana woman called 911 during an argument with her husband. When the police arrived, the man blocked and then shoved an officer who tried to enter his home without a warrant. Despite the fact that the wife told police her husband hadn’t hit her, the man was shocked with a stun gun and arrested. Insisting that it would be safer for all concerned to let police proceed even with an illegal action and sort it out later in court with a civil lawsuit, the court held that residents can’t resist police who enter their home – whatever the reason. The problem, of course, is that anything short of complete and utter acquiescence and compliance constitutes resistance. Thus, even the supposedly protected act of free speech – a simple "Wait, this is my home. What’s this about?" – constitutes resistance.
http://lewrockwell.com/whitehead/whitehead31.1.html
[Anonymous]
Dear Mr. Whitehead,
Your recent column published on LRC highlighted painful truths about the place where you and I live.
It is my belief that these changes ultimately stem from a persistently rising "social mood" (see www.socionomics.net for reference) that translated into astronomical levels of (misplaced) trust and complacency on the part of most individuals.
While "traditional" authoritarianism is associated with social mood declines (e.g. those signaled by the plunging stocks and economic conditions near 1917 Russia and the Post-Great-Depression period in Europe and North America), we seem to have grown a hybrid kind of soft-authoritarianism, one associated with Big Mother more than Big Brother.
I must assume you receive queries from individuals asking, "What are we to do?" I don't pretend to know how you respond, but my belief is that the only prudent thing to do is to make one's home a castle again via passive means, giving up on "words-on-paper" as a bulwark of our defense.
Two of the greatest dangers "regular" people now face are being the victim of vindictive prosecution or of a no-knock SWAT raid. Lives ruined and lives lost to these "clerical errors" are too numerous now to ignore.
While I know not what can be done to avoid the former, as you know the latter cannot be met with return force, no matter how satisfying such a contemplation may appear. To even "win" such a battle (shooting down the invaders before their return fire finds you) is obviously to lose the "war."
What one must do is bog down the invasion in slow-to-surmount obstacles. Since most data show those implementing "dynamic entry" do not relish the razor edges of broken windows and strongly prefer to use a battered-down door, it should be possible to reinforce a door to the point where their battering rams (and even "breaching rounds" from shotguns) require a siege instead of a smash-and-grab.
Having lost the element of surprise and shock, entering a home is apt to appear more risky than even these adrenalin-addled cowboys will relish.
I have yet to act on my thoughts, but I think individual initiative along these lines is far more productive than waiting for our neighbors and fellow citizens to withdraw their consent from the nascent police state our rulers erected while they dozed.
Best wishes,
Dave
Dear Sir:
I could not agree with you more in your recent column The Changing Face of the Police and the Death of the Fourth Amendment, which I read at LewRockwell.com. I firmly believe that this death began when Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist wrote that because of the magnitude of the problem of drunk driving, road blocks do not violate the Fourth Amendment. He had fallen hook, line and sinker for the propaganda spewed by MADD. MADD has also helped kill the Fifth, Sixth and Tenth Amendments in their attempt to bring back Prohibition.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Read
Mr. Whitehead,
Thank you for a GREAT and timely article. I have several concerns about the effects of this unlawful ruling. One of the things I have repeatedly read about this decision is that it applies only to searches when officers are pursuing drug investigations. I am not an attorney but I think this decision can be used by police to include practically any "exigent" search. That is to say that police will be using this decision routinely to search also for guns, suspicion of "stolen" goods, to search ones vehicle without consent and so forth, and those searches will be held to be lawful under the provisions of this decision.
I notice that we have yet to see the search warrant for the Guerena case in Tuscon which just occurred. The old provisions of the 4th were in effect at the time of that search.
I sincerely hope you will continue to give attention to this 4th amendment issue, as it is crucial to our way of life. I know that you are a Constitutional attorney and I have a question for you. I know that the judiciary is somewhat insulated from being removed because of some politicians petty power impulses, but I also know that they can be removed for the right cause. Do you think this Kentucky v. King decision opens the door for impeachment and removal of these justices?
For Liberty,
JD
Dear Mr. Whitehead:
What a sad commentary on the other "Conservative" justices, in the Kentucky v. King decision, when Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the lone dissenting vote. What happened to Thomas, Scalia, Roberts and Alito? Goodbye, Fourth Ammendment.
I read your article on http://lewrockwell.com.
Thanks for your time.
Best regards,
Mark
Sir:
We had this same problem a couple of centuries ago. Should the citizenry decide to handle it the same way, I think that the concept would spread across the country very quickly.
There was an incident in Arizona recently where a SWAT Team killed a former Marine in front of his wife and child. Medical teams were not permitted to assist the homeowner until after he was dead.
Such occurrences need to be corrected, either through the legal system, or outside of it.
Charles
This is a terrible setback from the United States Socialistic Regime. We're to the point where we have to ask nicely to please give us our rights back. And the answer is, "No, we need them right now, for what we're doing. But if we don't need them in the future, we'll be sure to let you use them." It is a sad day to see that kind of thing happen. And alarming. And no matter how vocal, it does no good so far.
Further, there are so many things on so many fronts that are occurring (and yet to occur!) in the Obama administration that it is mind-numbing to the legislators to hear from their constituents. The effect on them is: "Everything we do is always wrong all the time, I'm going to stop listening." To me, their behavior is similar to Mordecai's imperative to Esther: Who knows but that you have come to position for such a time as this. And their behavior is similar: And if they perish seeking these permanent (?) changes to our nation, it is worth it to them. The difference is that Esther's cause was noble, and the current changes debase our nation.
There isn't one thing to confront. There aren't even just a dozen major problems. There are hundreds of encroachments. They come at us so fast that if we were to focus hard on just the top three and beat on them for the next four years for change, that would still leave 97 new ones (brushfires against freedom) being lit while we concentrate on just the few. Net effect would be that we lose anyway.
Personally, I'm at my wits end about all of this. The only thing that makes sense is that God has decreed we shall face judgement and that he is letting our nation go the way it has chosen to go. Usually, he lets the wickedness of the wicked blossom fully. It's not because he doesn't care, it's because he has decided to judge it, often times. So he lets them go. Since in our wisdom as a nation we do not seek God but deliberately choose to believe lies, he is able to give us up to all sorts of things and our foolish minds become darkened.
If that is the case, nothing I can do will change that. Everything I do has the net effect of changing nothing. It's overwhelming.
What is not overwhelming is my trust in God. What does not bother me is people like you continuing to do the fine job you are doing. When we do what God wants us to do, our lives are never wasted. I have taken to telling my boys recently: "God never wastes a life. If you put yourself fully in the Lord's hands, you can be absolutely certain that no matter what happens, he will never have wasted your life." Of course, like William Carey the missionary and his printing press house burning and flooding, it is hard to understand at the time the reasons in his providence for the events that are at odds with the whole purpose he felt God sent him for. But he continued on because the call doesn't change just because circumstances don't go our way. I loved reading "Heroes of the Faith: William Carey" from the YWAM folk. It helped me separate results from calling. So I am never overwhelmed to where I do not continue to write to my representatives.
Until God tells me not to do so, I write. And from time to time at the dinner table, I pray. God is trustworthy. But I also know his eyes roam to and fro throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. He often responds when we stand in the gap. He has the discretion to do so or not. But often, no one stands in the gap when he is willing. May we all stand in the gap as and when he calls us to and let him bless the results in ways we may never see on earth. Do not give up. Carry on. God never wastes a life, nor a court case given into his hands. God is good. All the time.
Bill
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Bin Laden, Gaddafi and Modern Warfare: On the Highway of Death
Click Here to Read the Commentary
As a fellow VN vet, you are no doubt familiar with “Free Fire Zones”. Whole villages were napalmed ahead of the defoliation formations where I was a navigator—in the lead aircraft where I could observe the Pre-Strike destruction. Our government always tried to cover up this stuff, unless exposed, as at My Lai. But now we openly brag about it! We almost got Gadhaffi and did managed to kill a couple of his grandchildren. The story on Osama frequently changes, but the brutality of it seems a cause for great celebrating and self-congratulating by politicians who directed or at least participated.
Ron
A powerful case for the horrors and inhumanity of war. I am profoundly anti-war. I see war as a failure, win or lose. And what it does to those who engage in it is beyond revulsion. I am so glad to meet others who feel much the same and have the ability to express it. You're depiction of the Vietnam war helicopter pilots was especially poignant, as was the Kuwait massacre. I'm old enough to remember Vietnam, Korea and even WW2. I remember few atrocities from WW2 except, perhaps by the enemy. Must have been a kinder, gentler time for the U.S.? Remove the profit from war and we will have fewer. Best.
John
Mr. Whitehead:
If there were a God, he/she would have absolutely NO reason to help any of those of us making war on the world. "God bless the USA" Not likely. "Made in His image!" Sure we were.
Jack
John.
While I tend to agree that war is ultimately about killing, it seems unlikely that we will escape war.
We produce war as we do anything else. We have all grown up with stories of war. Literature, film, education, etc. There is no reason for us to assume that we can live without it.
Also, there is no reason for us to assume otherwise that rich men make poor men go to war. The way it seems to work here in the west is that the elite beat the drums of war to which the middle class march and the poor are sent to fight. F---.
If you murder a man on the streets, you are a murderer. Locked up and the key thrown away. But you murder a hundred men in battle and you are a hero. Accidentally kill a man on the streets and it's manslaughter; in battle, collateral damage. It's so strange and beautiful how our perception manages our interactions.
So we must change our cognition of war.
But one would think it's so easy to change our mindset; turn off the war switch. First, we need to understand the hell of war. Let's all go to war or none of us.
M
Thank you, John...
...for so clearly pointing out that the greatest cost of war cannot be measured in dollars.
Frank
John, thanks for having the courage to speak the truth in love. While Bin Laudin has done much wrong we all have responsibility & culpability because of the attrocities our government & country has perpetrated on other nations & peoples of our world. Please keep the faith & keep speaking the truth John..... Our world so desperately needs men of YAHWEH who have counted the cost and chosen to follow YESHUA. I pray that YAHWEH's love & peace will surround & keep you and your family always.......
Loren
Brilliant and soul-filled, as always.
May God help us all, yes.
Thank you, John.
Mike
Dear Mr. Whitehead,
Bin Laden, Gaddafi and Modern Warfare is a wonderful piece. I only wish more people would see it. I read in the paper (or on a website) that while only 40% of older Americans approve of torture, 60% of younger Americans do. This is an ominous development. I believe it is in large part a response to the public discussion of torture in relation to the war on Terrorism. It is also a symptom of the declining prestige of Christianity. The moral authority has passed to Judaism, and in Israel torture is legal. That may be a prejudiced view, but I really do think the decline of Christianity is making us a more brutish nation. It is very sad. Such elements in the Arab world that believe in world domination are hopelessly far from having the tools to pursue their fantasy. This is in stark contrast with international Communism. The Red Army was the world's strongest for a time, and the Soviet nuclear arsenal rivaled our own. Soviet propagandists taught in every major university (and still do, sort of.) Compared to such physical and intellectual firepower what the Arab extremists can muster is pitiful, and with one glaring exception their fight against the west has been entirely on their own turf. It must certainly seem nightmarish and Satanic to the camel drivers to see drones overhead reigning down fire. I am no longer proud to be an American.
Peter
As a fellow VN vet, you are no doubt familiar with “Free Fire Zones”. Whole villages were napalmed ahead of the defoliation formations where I was a navigator—in the lead aircraft where I could observe the Pre-Strike destruction. Our government always tried to cover up this stuff, unless exposed, as at My Lai. But now we openly brag about it! We almost got Gadhaffi and did managed to kill a couple of his grandchildren. The story on Osama frequently changes, but the brutality of it seems a cause for great celebrating and self-congratulating by politicians who directed or at least participated.
Ron
A powerful case for the horrors and inhumanity of war. I am profoundly anti-war. I see war as a failure, win or lose. And what it does to those who engage in it is beyond revulsion. I am so glad to meet others who feel much the same and have the ability to express it. You're depiction of the Vietnam war helicopter pilots was especially poignant, as was the Kuwait massacre. I'm old enough to remember Vietnam, Korea and even WW2. I remember few atrocities from WW2 except, perhaps by the enemy. Must have been a kinder, gentler time for the U.S.? Remove the profit from war and we will have fewer. Best.
John
Mr. Whitehead:
If there were a God, he/she would have absolutely NO reason to help any of those of us making war on the world. "God bless the USA" Not likely. "Made in His image!" Sure we were.
Jack
John.
While I tend to agree that war is ultimately about killing, it seems unlikely that we will escape war.
We produce war as we do anything else. We have all grown up with stories of war. Literature, film, education, etc. There is no reason for us to assume that we can live without it.
Also, there is no reason for us to assume otherwise that rich men make poor men go to war. The way it seems to work here in the west is that the elite beat the drums of war to which the middle class march and the poor are sent to fight. F---.
If you murder a man on the streets, you are a murderer. Locked up and the key thrown away. But you murder a hundred men in battle and you are a hero. Accidentally kill a man on the streets and it's manslaughter; in battle, collateral damage. It's so strange and beautiful how our perception manages our interactions.
So we must change our cognition of war.
But one would think it's so easy to change our mindset; turn off the war switch. First, we need to understand the hell of war. Let's all go to war or none of us.
M
Thank you, John...
...for so clearly pointing out that the greatest cost of war cannot be measured in dollars.
Frank
John, thanks for having the courage to speak the truth in love. While Bin Laudin has done much wrong we all have responsibility & culpability because of the attrocities our government & country has perpetrated on other nations & peoples of our world. Please keep the faith & keep speaking the truth John..... Our world so desperately needs men of YAHWEH who have counted the cost and chosen to follow YESHUA. I pray that YAHWEH's love & peace will surround & keep you and your family always.......
Loren
Brilliant and soul-filled, as always.
May God help us all, yes.
Thank you, John.
Mike
Dear Mr. Whitehead,
Bin Laden, Gaddafi and Modern Warfare is a wonderful piece. I only wish more people would see it. I read in the paper (or on a website) that while only 40% of older Americans approve of torture, 60% of younger Americans do. This is an ominous development. I believe it is in large part a response to the public discussion of torture in relation to the war on Terrorism. It is also a symptom of the declining prestige of Christianity. The moral authority has passed to Judaism, and in Israel torture is legal. That may be a prejudiced view, but I really do think the decline of Christianity is making us a more brutish nation. It is very sad. Such elements in the Arab world that believe in world domination are hopelessly far from having the tools to pursue their fantasy. This is in stark contrast with international Communism. The Red Army was the world's strongest for a time, and the Soviet nuclear arsenal rivaled our own. Soviet propagandists taught in every major university (and still do, sort of.) Compared to such physical and intellectual firepower what the Arab extremists can muster is pitiful, and with one glaring exception their fight against the west has been entirely on their own turf. It must certainly seem nightmarish and Satanic to the camel drivers to see drones overhead reigning down fire. I am no longer proud to be an American.
Peter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)