(This post is the first of a few in honor of Memorial Day, and part of an ongoing series on war.)

With the arrival of another Memorial Day, it seems only appropriate to re-examine notions of war and military action. We’re supposed to remember the fallen, but part of that entails remembering why they died. Most of all, since life witnesses enough suffering as it is, it’s essential to remember and question whether certain deaths were unnecessary and avoidable, and work to prevent any repetition of those mistakes. To that end, it’s important to examine the mentality that lead to unnecessary deaths in the first place. All the recent accusations of “appeasement” from the Bush administration, the neocons, and other right-wingers gives us a perfect case study of these brave cowboys of the junior high lunch room.

The Worst are Full of Obstinate Belligerency

If you read the liberal blogosphere, it’d be hard to have missed Chris Matthews’ smackdown of Kevin James, but it’s an excellent starting point. It’s sorta funny, but also sorta disgusting. If you can bear to, watch at least part of it again:
(more…)

The Freeway Blogger has more of these (via Skippy).

As we discussed in “The Poetry of War,” our “Deciders” do not understand sacrifice. As Garry Trudeau put it, they believe we must “stay the course. We cannot dishonor the upcoming sacrifice of those who have yet to die.” Death is a tragedy, but an unnecessary death is an atrocity. Stop loss, indeed.

(This week marks the fifth anniversary of the United States’ invasion of Iraq. This post is for the Iraq War Blogswarm and as part of a ongoing Series on War. Cross-posted at Vagabond Scholar.)

From Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, translated by Paul Reps:

Once a division of the Japanese army was engaged in a sham battle, and some of the officers found it necessary to make their headquarters in Gasan’s temple.

Gasan told his cook: “Let the officers have only the same simple fare we eat.”

This made the army men angry, as they were used to very deferential treatment. One came to Gasan and said: “Who do you think we are? We are soldiers, sacrificing our lives for our country. Why don’t you treat us accordingly?”

Gasan answered sternly: “Who do you think we are? We are soldiers of humanity, aiming to save all sentient beings.”

(This week marks the fifth anniversary of the United States’ invasion of Iraq. This post is for the Iraq War Blogswarm and as part of a ongoing Series on War. Cross-posted at Vagabond Scholar.)

(This week marks the fifth anniversary of the United States’ invasion of Iraq. This post is for the Iraq War Blogswarm and as part of a ongoing Series on War.)

There is no poetry to war itself. There is, however, some famous poetry about war, some of which depicts it as glorious, while other pieces capture its horror. Let us begin with:
(more…)

…Okay, the scansion on that absolutely sucks.

Nevertheless, I did want to sound the call on two important blogswarms this week.

This Wednesday will be the March 19th Iraq War Blogswarm. The site has suggestions and several badges you can use, but the key idea is that “This blogswarm will promote blog postings opposing the war in Iraq and calling for a full withdrawal of foreign occupying forces in Iraq.”

Meanwhile, this upcoming Easter weekend will be the third Blog Against Theocracy blogswarm, celebrating the First Amendment and “the freedom to worship, or not.” Go here for more information, suggestions, and an online submission form. (The graphic is by Tengrain).

(Cross-posted at Vagabond Scholar)

Where’s the outcry, indeed! I’ll tell you. Those who rely solely on the MSM for their news, (which I daresay are still in the majority), are spoon fed a view of the war that is less horrible, less hideous, less everything… except less needed. On the contrary, the MSM are only too glad to pen the Bush administration’s twisted point of view on just how important and needed this damn war is. Basically, it’s a watered-down, sugar coated version with just a hint of cinnamon, for good measure.

That’s only part of the problem, of course. The sad truth is, we Americans really are fat and lazy! We’ve been told that by peoples of other nations for quite some time now. It appears they were right.

Osama hinted that bringing down those buildings on 9/11 would only be the beginning of our destruction. You can call him lots of things, but ‘dumb’ is not one of them.

Thousands Rally Against Iraq War In S.F.

SAN FRANCISCO — Thousands of people called for a swift end to the war in Iraq as they marched through downtown on Saturday, chanting and carrying signs that read: “Wall Street Gets Rich, Iraqis and GIs Die” or “Drop Tuition Not Bombs.”

The streets were filled with thousands as labor union members, anti-war activists, clergy and others rallied near City Hall before marching to Dolores Park.

As part of the demonstration, protesters fell on Market Street as part of a “die in” to commemorate the thousands of American soldiers and Iraqi citizens who have died since the conflict began in March 2003.

The protest was the largest in a series of war protests taking place in New York, Los Angeles and other U.S. cities, organizers said.

KTVU / Associated Press

KTVU.com

I would love to have participated in this. To witness Jane Fonda’s fiery condemnation of a pro-war administration, part-2, would have been awesome. (Plus, I’m a big Susan Sarandon fan.)

Fonda leads army of celebs at anti-war rally

‘Silence is no longer an option’

“Hanoi Jane” Fonda turned her attention to Iraq yesterday, breaking a 34-year silence to speak to tens of thousands of war protesters in Washington.

“Silence is no longer an option,” she told the crowd in her first address to a rally since her highly criticized anti-Vietnam protests of the ’70s - which included being photographed astride a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun.

“I haven’t spoken at an anti-war rally in 34 years because of lies about me that were used to hurt the anti-war movement.

“I’m so sad we have to do this, that we did not learn the lessons of the Vietnam war,” the acting doyenne said.

Fonda was one of an army of celebrities that joined busloads of protesters energized by fresh congressional skepticism for the war and demanding a withdrawal of troops.

“This past November the American people sent a resounding signal to Washington, D.C., and the world,” said actor Tim Robbins, joined by his Oscar-winning partner, Susan Sarandon, and Sean Penn, another Academy Award winner.

“We want change. We want this war to end. And how did Bush respond? Twenty-one thousand, five hundred more will risk their lives for this misguided war. Is impeachment still off the table?” Robbins asked.

Source: New York Daily News