Oddbean

I had a thought yesterday about potential nation state level fork wars where two countries both couldn’t come to consensus about a protocol change and try to destroy each other. I don’t think it’s realistic at all, but it was an interesting idea to ponder nonetheless.

My point in responding was in relation to what a veteran said today at our ceremony. He said that it’s important to remember to let the soldiers know that their sacrifice was not for nothing. That they lost their friends, left their homes, came back with mental and physical scares, for something. He said it made it easier to deal with the aftermath, knowing that it wasn’t for nothing. That it was for something. That it made a difference.

I’m not sure if that’s true. A few of my family members are veterans, and I’ve listed to a lot of former soldiers speak about the Iraq war, and it seems like a great deal of them were sold a lie and ended up not understanding why they were even there. I agree that all wars are fought for a reason, but the reason since WW1 has not been productive, valuable, or in the best interests of those who are actually taking part in it. We have fiat wars now - literally “wars by decree” where a select few elites use their control over economic actions to move millions around like chess pieces and cause destruction which they can take advantage of.

I worked with hundreds just like this girl whose parents were no longer with her. This is the outcome of endless wars. https://image.nostr.build/544fa4fd95a447771979ce0e25f4b80e9949af1e40f6931509b2dd1bb7346c21.jpg

I’m sorry that you’ve experienced such profound tragedies. You’re a very strong and courageous individual. I have an immense amount of hope and conviction that we can make fewer people have to suffer the brutal reality of war in the future. We can never eliminate all violence, but state funded forever wars need to end.

sounds like you should at least understand the relationship between central banks, weapons manufacturers, money laundering, political lobbying in the US, fiat currency systems, and the last speech of Eisenhower gave, before attempting to correct @Forrest on the matter 🤓

I am well aware of those arguments. I was merely trying to point out that when we say that wars were fought for “nothing”, we discredit and dishonour the sacrifices that all servicemen and servicewomen have made. On this day, especially, we would best remember what these people have lost in the service of all of us.

What dishonors them more: Having sons and daughters die to accumulate resource wealth for political powers, and that under false political pretenses, or openly admitting they died for nothing so we can change it, even if it offends those whose world view is shaped by the theatrical sentimentality of Hollywood, and Pentagon propaganda? I’ll do them the service of choosing the second.

Once again, I’m not looking to argue with you. If you would prefer to believe that your security and prosperity is a result of the “good nature” and benevolence of your fellow man, so be it. If you think you could defend your property, and your family, and usher in a period of peace, simply by asking the thugs of the world to leave you alone, so be it. I will choose to honour those that have fallen to protect my way of life and the prosperity that my family enjoys.

These soldiers deserve to be honored They also deserve better than their military and their country has given them This story is fascinating for the implications and horrifying for the consequences on the soldiers lives and health (should be no paywall on this link) https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/05/us/us-army-marines-artillery-isis-pentagon.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9kw.19_1.eSXSJyMCph2M&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare