Mandatory Service

Rodricks has a brilliant idea. I think the intention behind it, to connect people to the war, connect people to the government, is necessary. The problem is the the general public allows the government to perpetrate violence on others because it really does not effect 7pm dinner or the Sunday game.A requirement may spark a revolt, or at least a much needed change. And Rodricks' offers options, not everyone needs to go to the front lines, their efforts could be channeled into community building with is also a worth cause.

I do not think that a military is necessary, but people assume that it is, perhaps if the general public were affected as a whole, at least with the threat of losing someone they know, then they would care. Maybe we would look to peace instead of 'shoot now, question' attitude.

Will Astore and the Short Sighted-ness of Progressives.

The argument that Astore makes just seems based on flawed assumptions. One, that the military is a necessity and a fact of life. Two- that males are inherently oppressed in a "feminized society". That the military is the most equal and diverse institution of power..when homosexuality is not allowed. The article is written with clear bias, so much so that I cannot take it seriously.

side note

within the Stahl article there is mention of *kuma/war, so I went to website to explore ..its intense, as the article mentions and website boasts kuma war is "real war news. real war games". http://www.kumawar.com

...this is ridiculous.

hollywood and the pentagon

i am more than disgusted at the level of involvement the government has in hollywood and vice versa. the relationship is more than inappropriate, it is incestuous. each has the power to heavily influence public thought, and are abusing that power to promote and agenda. for hollywood the benefit is making money, for the government the benefit is publicity. as if the government does not control the lives of its citizens enough. the documentary reaffirmed my theory that the government is a machine that operates on fear, oppression, ignorance and blind allegiance.

random notes to self from class: RE- the allure of war/military--> to me there is no allure in war. no mystery. no curiosity. i do not want to kill anyone. i do not want people to try and kill me. i could not function in the military because subordination and unquestioning loyalty is not something that i subscribe to. regardless of what history has reflected, war is not necessary, it is not innate, and it is not unavoidable. war is motivated by greed, hated and misunderstanding and is despicable to use human nature as a justification for any act of violence.