Posted on Jun 22, 2016
And the War Came: A Call for Unity—Not to Arms—in My Hometown Orlando
1.3K
3
1
2
2
0
The first familiar face to walk into Beefy King was my elementary schoolteacher, Mrs. Rita Musick, who refused a selfie because it had rained and she still doesn’t like to get her hair wet, you remember. “In my circle of friends,” she said, softly, we “can’t understand that kind of hate.” And after Friday’s murder across the street, she says, nodding toward the picture window, “It’s like the loss of innocence.”
In Orlando, a community tired of the divisiveness, I witnessed a passionate, unified, sustained cry for peace.
I heard little call for war. ///// Would this have happened in 1941 after that attack?
In Orlando, a community tired of the divisiveness, I witnessed a passionate, unified, sustained cry for peace.
I heard little call for war. ///// Would this have happened in 1941 after that attack?
And the War Came: A Call for Unity—Not to Arms—in My Hometown Orlando
Posted from defenseone.com
Terrorism
Fighting
Peace
Warfare
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1
1
1
0
Such a difficult subject. On the one hand, it is human to want revenge...and peace, at the same time. On the other, it takes a pragmatic stance to realize that cause and effect is everything...there is an equal and opposite reaction, etc, etc. If my neighbor gets robbed one night, then suddenly every sound I hear outside my door is a threat. I have to choose between demanding the authorities do something about the thief...or prepare to do something when he arrives.
We've had gays, Muslims, Christians, and guns in America for a very, very long time...it wasn't until the ideologies resulted in war, genocide and terrorism every week that we developed a "culture" for each. "Unity" is a concept...war is an act, and an expensive one. Our armed forces in ground combat designators , rates, and MOSs vastly outnumber the foe. Our weapons are the best devised by mankind...So what is hindering us? I think we're afraid that the very concept of the 'United States of America' implies a contract that supersedes all other loyalties.
That used to be "easy"...now, it is hard.
In 1941, we were not attacked because of where we do or do not worship, who we do or do not sleep with, or how our society was organized...we were simply standing in the way. Likewise, we didn't wage war on Japanese culture, beliefs or society...but their Imperial aims driven by their military and industrial power. If we go to full-scale, total war with ISIS and their allies, we aren't fighting geography, manpower, or even government...we'd be fighting an ideology that emerged more than a millennia ago and has roots that span the entire globe. To "win", we'd have to pull up those roots, and some grow in and among roots of our own culture. It would be difficult to know where to stop...when ISIS is underground, when "radical" Islam is silent...or will we have to keep fighting until we've eradicated everyone who disagrees with a universal society?
Personally, I believe this is the ultimate aim of our enemies...not to make us feel scared, and not to make us think twice about our choices. Rather, they would have us tear apart the very things that have allowed our nation to be a place where ideological enemies can still proudly call each other by a common name...Americans.
We've had gays, Muslims, Christians, and guns in America for a very, very long time...it wasn't until the ideologies resulted in war, genocide and terrorism every week that we developed a "culture" for each. "Unity" is a concept...war is an act, and an expensive one. Our armed forces in ground combat designators , rates, and MOSs vastly outnumber the foe. Our weapons are the best devised by mankind...So what is hindering us? I think we're afraid that the very concept of the 'United States of America' implies a contract that supersedes all other loyalties.
That used to be "easy"...now, it is hard.
In 1941, we were not attacked because of where we do or do not worship, who we do or do not sleep with, or how our society was organized...we were simply standing in the way. Likewise, we didn't wage war on Japanese culture, beliefs or society...but their Imperial aims driven by their military and industrial power. If we go to full-scale, total war with ISIS and their allies, we aren't fighting geography, manpower, or even government...we'd be fighting an ideology that emerged more than a millennia ago and has roots that span the entire globe. To "win", we'd have to pull up those roots, and some grow in and among roots of our own culture. It would be difficult to know where to stop...when ISIS is underground, when "radical" Islam is silent...or will we have to keep fighting until we've eradicated everyone who disagrees with a universal society?
Personally, I believe this is the ultimate aim of our enemies...not to make us feel scared, and not to make us think twice about our choices. Rather, they would have us tear apart the very things that have allowed our nation to be a place where ideological enemies can still proudly call each other by a common name...Americans.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google