What once thought itself a beacon of hope and inspiration to the world ( if in fact it ever was) is now but a hollow shell of nothingness. The sorry truth is that it is dragging the rest of the world with it.
Contrary to popular war hawk fantasies (often held by those without any military service), human nature is adverse to killing other humans. Brigadier General Marshall was a US Army historian that noted only 15-20% of American riflemen fired at the enemy during WW II combat. See also: On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society. Written by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman who taught psychology at West Point & Military Science at Arkansas State. Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in non-fiction.
There is a saying “the opposite of love is not hate but indifference”.
US citizens who are empathic, introspective, and value humanity over control and hostility appear to be impotent. The USA is addicted to the idea of “exceptionalism” and governs from an attitude that it is a modern day “absolute monarchy”.
First you gather up your toys . . . A dog for loyalty; A gun, eg. AR15 for Deer hunting; and lots of Testosterone for chest thumping; and a leader or a Monday morning quarterback who will keep his boys on the straight and narrow; and finally the skills of a preacher who talks forever to set the focus-never letting an interruption.
Solid observations, the contrast is stark and media never fails to run the Gambit. Our culture is held in the hands of the attention economy. Unfortunate when that includes suffering, anywhere.
I’ve long thought that the ingrained notion of American exceptionalism gave them an arrogance that then placed them above everyone else. Perhaps, if I’m even close to correct, they’ve made it come home to roost. Thanks always Fred, for good thoughts.
What once thought itself a beacon of hope and inspiration to the world ( if in fact it ever was) is now but a hollow shell of nothingness. The sorry truth is that it is dragging the rest of the world with it.
Contrary to popular war hawk fantasies (often held by those without any military service), human nature is adverse to killing other humans. Brigadier General Marshall was a US Army historian that noted only 15-20% of American riflemen fired at the enemy during WW II combat. See also: On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society. Written by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman who taught psychology at West Point & Military Science at Arkansas State. Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in non-fiction.
"Macho, macho man (macho man, yeah)
I gotta be a macho man (I gotta be a macho man)"
There is a saying “the opposite of love is not hate but indifference”.
US citizens who are empathic, introspective, and value humanity over control and hostility appear to be impotent. The USA is addicted to the idea of “exceptionalism” and governs from an attitude that it is a modern day “absolute monarchy”.
Typical USA ‘Good O’l Boys’.
First you gather up your toys . . . A dog for loyalty; A gun, eg. AR15 for Deer hunting; and lots of Testosterone for chest thumping; and a leader or a Monday morning quarterback who will keep his boys on the straight and narrow; and finally the skills of a preacher who talks forever to set the focus-never letting an interruption.
Now you’re ready to start a new revolution.
Solid observations, the contrast is stark and media never fails to run the Gambit. Our culture is held in the hands of the attention economy. Unfortunate when that includes suffering, anywhere.
I’ve long thought that the ingrained notion of American exceptionalism gave them an arrogance that then placed them above everyone else. Perhaps, if I’m even close to correct, they’ve made it come home to roost. Thanks always Fred, for good thoughts.