The United States Declaration of war was not a happy, or peaceful one; as can be found through the very definition of the word "war." The United States had no interest in getting involved in the militant disputes of the Europeans, and were not happy to be dragged in to war by Germany. It is clear that they were not happy with the German government. They sought neutrality, and the peace of the world, but had no interest in going to war. The tone of their deceleration was likely one of anger, and of distress. They had no business in this war, and they knew that.
The Germans on the other hand; well, this was exactly what they wanted. They wanted the U.S. in this war; they wanted the United States. Their response to the declaration of war against them was probably something similar to a modern day "bring it on." They wanted the U.S. to bring the battle to them, and hoped that that was exactly what they would do.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Getting down to the truth.
Left in a situation with 6 captured enemy militants, and a nearby "bomb factory" still up and running, soldiers have to be ready to act. I for one, feel that these soldiers should be able to do what it takes to get the information, and save the lives of people who may possibly be effected by these bombs. However, this may not be the "politically correct" thing to do. According to the rules of war, and the United States Military, there are certain rules that must be followed. The Geneva Convention lays down very specific rules that must be followed in the case of dealing with prisoners. But in all honesty, what should be done? Should we tell our soldiers to sit around, and not get any information out of the militants while bombs are being made at another location; i think not. These soldiers should use any nonlethal methods, that will also not cause extensive long term physical damage, in order to get the information that they need.
Some of the long and short term repercussions of these actions may be getting in trouble with the military first off. The soldiers may get into trouble if they go too far in their interrogations. At the same time, there may be serious repercussions for the militants, they may suffer from some forms of mental problems, and in some cases physical. However, the main thing that will come about from all this, is saving the lives of many people who may have died due to the bombs being made.
Some of the long and short term repercussions of these actions may be getting in trouble with the military first off. The soldiers may get into trouble if they go too far in their interrogations. At the same time, there may be serious repercussions for the militants, they may suffer from some forms of mental problems, and in some cases physical. However, the main thing that will come about from all this, is saving the lives of many people who may have died due to the bombs being made.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Naive.. Coward.
Dear Readers,
With WikiLeaks on the mind, i only have one thing to say.
Julian Assange is a naive coward.
What this man is doing is not justice; or at least not any morally righteous form of it. To say that this man is a hero, and that "wikileaks" is a revolutionary organization is both naive, and boarding on unintelligent. For one man to think that he can take on the world, and even more the U.S. government, is absurd. In fact, doubly absurd based on the fact that he of all people should know what our government is capable of. Last time i checked, we do not live in a country in which our government sits idly by and lets men with "doctor evil complexes" call the shots. And to say that Assange is above the U.S. government; well, that is plain absurd.
Furthermore, thousands of people say that this man is a genius; and sure, i'll give you that. He has been given the support of the liberal lunatics living in our very own country, he has managed to receive hundreds of thousands of confidential documents from governments around the world; while simultaneously avoided being arrested, killed, or worse. So yes, i will give you that he is smart. However, was not Adolf Hitler also a genius. The man who is often considered the most evil man in the history of mankind, the man who brought the world to its knees during WWII; he was a genius. He was supported and put into power by the very same people that came to hate him. Are we (and by saying we i am referring to all those hippy, un-trusting people out there) making the same mistake? Adolf Hitler had this said "doctor evil complex;" he sought to take over the world via war. Who is to say that Assange will not do the same.
WikiLeaks is a mistake. History is suppose to be about learning from the past in order to bring about a brighter tomorrow. Yet, we are not doing this. You may be reading this saying 'this is just one mans opinion' perhaps thinking that i am a little radical in my ideas, my thoughts on the issue. But, is there anyway to fight radical, but through being radical. I am not making a call to arms, or trying to bring about some sort of crazy riot. This is not a tea party, this is real life.
WikiLeaks should not be putting the things that they are in the light. Sure, i find it interesting to read and see what is actually happening in our government. But i should not have that luxury. I firmly believe that it is our governments job to lie to us; to not share the whole truth. And it is my job as a citizen to trust them; and i do. Many people believe that "These “leaks” have changed the way residents view their countries and show how much citizens should trust their governments." They are right. Julian Assange, and WikiLeaks is putting an end to whatever shred of nationalism was left in this world. Without that, where will we be? Perhaps in some sort of censored state similar to what occurs in China. For certain, i don't know..
In closing, i feel that perhaps Mr. Assange should read a little less Orwell, and start thinking a little bit more.
Photo Source: http://www.opinion-maker.org/2010/12/wikileaks-reprised-a-whiff-of-what/
With WikiLeaks on the mind, i only have one thing to say.
Julian Assange is a naive coward.
What this man is doing is not justice; or at least not any morally righteous form of it. To say that this man is a hero, and that "wikileaks" is a revolutionary organization is both naive, and boarding on unintelligent. For one man to think that he can take on the world, and even more the U.S. government, is absurd. In fact, doubly absurd based on the fact that he of all people should know what our government is capable of. Last time i checked, we do not live in a country in which our government sits idly by and lets men with "doctor evil complexes" call the shots. And to say that Assange is above the U.S. government; well, that is plain absurd.
Furthermore, thousands of people say that this man is a genius; and sure, i'll give you that. He has been given the support of the liberal lunatics living in our very own country, he has managed to receive hundreds of thousands of confidential documents from governments around the world; while simultaneously avoided being arrested, killed, or worse. So yes, i will give you that he is smart. However, was not Adolf Hitler also a genius. The man who is often considered the most evil man in the history of mankind, the man who brought the world to its knees during WWII; he was a genius. He was supported and put into power by the very same people that came to hate him. Are we (and by saying we i am referring to all those hippy, un-trusting people out there) making the same mistake? Adolf Hitler had this said "doctor evil complex;" he sought to take over the world via war. Who is to say that Assange will not do the same.
WikiLeaks is a mistake. History is suppose to be about learning from the past in order to bring about a brighter tomorrow. Yet, we are not doing this. You may be reading this saying 'this is just one mans opinion' perhaps thinking that i am a little radical in my ideas, my thoughts on the issue. But, is there anyway to fight radical, but through being radical. I am not making a call to arms, or trying to bring about some sort of crazy riot. This is not a tea party, this is real life.
WikiLeaks should not be putting the things that they are in the light. Sure, i find it interesting to read and see what is actually happening in our government. But i should not have that luxury. I firmly believe that it is our governments job to lie to us; to not share the whole truth. And it is my job as a citizen to trust them; and i do. Many people believe that "These “leaks” have changed the way residents view their countries and show how much citizens should trust their governments." They are right. Julian Assange, and WikiLeaks is putting an end to whatever shred of nationalism was left in this world. Without that, where will we be? Perhaps in some sort of censored state similar to what occurs in China. For certain, i don't know..
In closing, i feel that perhaps Mr. Assange should read a little less Orwell, and start thinking a little bit more.
Photo Source: http://www.opinion-maker.org/2010/12/wikileaks-reprised-a-whiff-of-what/
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Are you serious?
Lets be serious for a minute. Our country is currently at war--fighting to protect us, and other people around the world--and we are worried about video games? Well, if this is what the media wants to talk about, i shall humor you.
One article writes that "Death was casual, meted out on somebody else, tallied on a score sheet on a television screen." It is easy for adults to look at society and wonder what is wrong with the so called "generation Y," however is it our faults that we live in a time run by technology? I totally agree with the argument made by many, that we don't get outside enough, and that we spend to much time by the TV. Yet, this is what has become of our society; for better or worse. We cannot change what has already happened; video games have been brought into the picture and they are here to stay. What i find curious is this: did the adults, the same adults up in arms about "violent" video games, spend their childhood playing games such as "cops and robbers" or "cowboys and Indians"?
Different, and yet the same. Are not those games of old simply the post-technology era version of such games as "Call of Duty"? I and many others understand the argument; nothing back then showed such graphic violence or sent the same message. But, could this not be merely because they did not have the technology to do so back then? It is simply hard for me to believe that the adults scolding us for playing these games, would not have been playing them had they been available.
As far as the argument that says we [generation Y] are becoming "desensitized" to issues such as murder, and war; this is absurd. Does a cop find it okay, or normal to kill someone, just because he has done it before? Does a Army artillery officer? I have never asked, but i think we could guess that the answer would be no. If these men and women, who actually partake in such acts do not become "desensitized" how is it that we do? Given, we are exposed from a young age; but if a child grows up feeling that these acts are not as evil as they truly are, is this not more of a parenting issue? Perhaps an education issue? Is this a sign of the degradation of our public education system?
I leave it up to you to answer. I feel like the media has many better things that they could be worrying about; leave the parenting to the parents; and please report something that is actually a serious issue (i.e. the actually war).
Photo Source: http://halo2and34u.com/call_of_duty_4.aspx
One article writes that "Death was casual, meted out on somebody else, tallied on a score sheet on a television screen." It is easy for adults to look at society and wonder what is wrong with the so called "generation Y," however is it our faults that we live in a time run by technology? I totally agree with the argument made by many, that we don't get outside enough, and that we spend to much time by the TV. Yet, this is what has become of our society; for better or worse. We cannot change what has already happened; video games have been brought into the picture and they are here to stay. What i find curious is this: did the adults, the same adults up in arms about "violent" video games, spend their childhood playing games such as "cops and robbers" or "cowboys and Indians"?
Different, and yet the same. Are not those games of old simply the post-technology era version of such games as "Call of Duty"? I and many others understand the argument; nothing back then showed such graphic violence or sent the same message. But, could this not be merely because they did not have the technology to do so back then? It is simply hard for me to believe that the adults scolding us for playing these games, would not have been playing them had they been available.
As far as the argument that says we [generation Y] are becoming "desensitized" to issues such as murder, and war; this is absurd. Does a cop find it okay, or normal to kill someone, just because he has done it before? Does a Army artillery officer? I have never asked, but i think we could guess that the answer would be no. If these men and women, who actually partake in such acts do not become "desensitized" how is it that we do? Given, we are exposed from a young age; but if a child grows up feeling that these acts are not as evil as they truly are, is this not more of a parenting issue? Perhaps an education issue? Is this a sign of the degradation of our public education system?
I leave it up to you to answer. I feel like the media has many better things that they could be worrying about; leave the parenting to the parents; and please report something that is actually a serious issue (i.e. the actually war).
Photo Source: http://halo2and34u.com/call_of_duty_4.aspx
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Old Fashion Text Message
Way back when, when the war began, and soldiers went over to Europe to serve there country, because that was what was expected of them, they were scared. Sure, they most likely went over there, totally ready to fight and ready to be the big man once they got back home. However, in the back of their minds they always had that thought, 'what if i don't get back?' It seems like this war did a lot to the men who served, for better or worse.
With all this in mind, it is crazy to think about the fact that the only way they could communicate with back home was by letter. That one letter that might not get there, or perhaps it will but it will take 8 weeks to get there. I myself cannot even imagine what it would be like to send a letter, with the thought that it could be the last thing i ever said to my friends and family. We live in a world where if we want to communicate with someone, we can instantly; literally. A text message can be sent to someone living on the other side of the country, and they can get it and respond without a minute going by. And yet these soldiers only had a letter.
Take some time and think about this. Put down the phone, and think about if what you had to say in that text would not get to the person for weeks. Think about what it would be like to send that text and not know if you would ever communicate again. Next time you think its hard to get a hold of someone, or that we have it difficult; slap yourself.
With all this in mind, it is crazy to think about the fact that the only way they could communicate with back home was by letter. That one letter that might not get there, or perhaps it will but it will take 8 weeks to get there. I myself cannot even imagine what it would be like to send a letter, with the thought that it could be the last thing i ever said to my friends and family. We live in a world where if we want to communicate with someone, we can instantly; literally. A text message can be sent to someone living on the other side of the country, and they can get it and respond without a minute going by. And yet these soldiers only had a letter.
Take some time and think about this. Put down the phone, and think about if what you had to say in that text would not get to the person for weeks. Think about what it would be like to send that text and not know if you would ever communicate again. Next time you think its hard to get a hold of someone, or that we have it difficult; slap yourself.
Life's a dogfight.
From the memoirs of Berry Douglas, a WWI fighter pilot.
Today was rough.. The U.S. sure does train us well, but nothing is the same as being up there and fighting through the air. Today was my first "dogfight" as they call it. To be honest, it seems to me like its just a fight in which the lucky survive to do it all over again; damn lucky right? I don't know if i'll be around when someone reads this, but know that when your up there, fighting through the sky; no one is brave. Its easy to get up and fly around, but when the bullets began to fly today, i can honestly say that i have never been so scared in my life. It was like running around in a circle shooting, and hoping that you hit them before they hit you. Your mind goes blank, and all that matters is getting the hell out there alive. The war has taught me, that is all life is about. And being up in that plane, battling with 'em damn Germans, made me realize one thing; when i am up there, not only am i afraid, but i am ready to die for the country. I don't know whats going to happen to me, but i suppose time will tell. For now i got lucky, tomorrow, who knows..
Ber.
[100% fictional]
Today was rough.. The U.S. sure does train us well, but nothing is the same as being up there and fighting through the air. Today was my first "dogfight" as they call it. To be honest, it seems to me like its just a fight in which the lucky survive to do it all over again; damn lucky right? I don't know if i'll be around when someone reads this, but know that when your up there, fighting through the sky; no one is brave. Its easy to get up and fly around, but when the bullets began to fly today, i can honestly say that i have never been so scared in my life. It was like running around in a circle shooting, and hoping that you hit them before they hit you. Your mind goes blank, and all that matters is getting the hell out there alive. The war has taught me, that is all life is about. And being up in that plane, battling with 'em damn Germans, made me realize one thing; when i am up there, not only am i afraid, but i am ready to die for the country. I don't know whats going to happen to me, but i suppose time will tell. For now i got lucky, tomorrow, who knows..
Ber.
[100% fictional]
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Homosapien imperialim?
Avatar is a great example of imperialism, and the negative effects imperialism often has. In this movie, the United States (big shocker there) has formed a colony on the planet of Pandora. This right off the back screams imperialism. It is later found out why the United States has formed a colony on Pandora, and to no suprise one can find striking similarities to the United States annexation of Hawaii in this movie. The government wants something, so they go and take it. The government is very smart, and this is made clear in the movie. They saw an opportunity to make great money, and they took advantage of that. This is an obvious, and intellegent thing to do, however it does not always work.
In many cases with Imperialism, the stronger power will always win. This movie however, displays a rare situation regarding imperialism, the weaker force decides that it has had enough, and end the imperialistic ways of the super power. The natives to the planet of Pandora in this movie strike back against the Army, and end up winning. I guess one could say that the tables had turned, the United States went from being the stronger force, to the weaker force, in the course of a battle. This does not happen often, but is still imperialim regardless.
I chose this movie for that reason. It is important to understand that imperialism is not permenant, and that the tables can always turn. The good can always overcome the "bullies." This example of economic/political imperialism shows how quickly the tables can turn, and how truely unstable the imperialistic governments can often be. By no means is imperialism good, or bad; however it should not be expected as a long term solution. That is very evident in this movie.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)