Mamamontezz's Mental Rumpus Room

A Primer

I have observed a wide disparity of perception between what is generally labeled the "Anti-War" segment of the national debate and the rest of the population, be they relatively neutral, generally accepting of the war, or decidedly and emphatically "Pro-War."

In the interest of lessening the gap between these "Anti-war" persons and the rest of the population, I offer a few basic points, a primer as it were, from someone with a unique qualification: I pay attention.

Let us begin.

There is no "Off-On" switch for War. There is no clock or bell or buzzer. Nor are there periods, quarters, innings, rounds, or matches in war.

There are no Mulligans or "Do-Overs" when you miss your target, be it the one in your sites or the one on an estimated timetable.

You cannot negate a hit by yelling "missed me" and running on, guns blazing. Guns only blaze for so long before needing to be reloaded.

People sometimes get in the way. People often cannot get out of the way. "Friendly Fire" is a misnomer. "Hostile Fire" is equally a misnomer.

Bullets bear no grudges nor show any loyalty. That is not their purpose. Bullets exist and are used to kill as many members of the opposite side as possible, and to do so quickly. Their only way of determining the opposite side is to hit what they are aimed at. They are only as efficient or foolproof as the person firing them.

"Goldbricks" are called that because they bear striking similarities to actual boullion. They're difficult to carry, compromise your ability to move quickly as a team, and are worthless in combat.

Troops read everything they can from home, whether it's a letter, e-mail, magazine, book, or newspaper. Troops take to heart everything they read. If you want to make an impact of the morale of those in uniform, say something about one of them, their unit, their branch, their country, their commander, or their mom.

Symbols and symbolic actions are of equal import to both sides of any war. What is intended to inspire one side often either inflames or demoralizes the other. What is intended to belittle or demonize one side often uplifts and gives purpose to the other.

Symbols and symbolic actions intended for domestic consumption, to inflame, dissuade, or demoralize participants on one particular side the debate, will eventually have equivalent and opposite effects on the morale of troops of both sides.

To be a Pro-Troops/Anti-Military Protestor is to be an Oxymoron of the lowest order.

A coward is not a Conscientious Objector. A person who is unwilling to uphold his contractual obligations, even as he uses every program and benefit offered in the meantime, is not a Conscientious Objector. A deserter is not a Conscientious Objector.

There is nothing brave, patriotic, or courageous about marching in sizeable groups with signs and police protection on a public thoroughfare and then verbally or physically assaulting those who stand on the sides with "We Support Our Troops" or "God Bless America" signs.

Addendum:

Political dissidents are invited to speak at universities, testify before congress, speak and respeak their talking points on Larry King, and often sign lucrative book deals. This is because there is no injuction against political speech in spite of the rhetoric.

There are no political prisons. The only political prisoners languishing in their gymnasiums or libraries are those who allowed their dissidence to manifest as a criminal act. Words don't earn a dissident jail time unless you carve them into the lifeless flesh of a fellow human or etch them with flames across a half-built residential subdivision.

Posted by Mamamontezz at April 7, 2004 01:11 PM