Can you imagine not being able to learn from your experiences? If you answered yes, then you must be the U.S. government or a branch of the military.
As tensions increased on the Korean peninsula months ago, North Korea responded by torpedoing a South Korean warship – killing 46 sailors. Now, the South Korean and U.S. militaries are counteracting with a high-profile show of force in the East Sea. Ships, planes, submarines and helicopters are practicing maneuvers to send a message to North Korea.
Surprise, surprise: North Korea is threatening to retaliate. Except, it’s not a surprise. Violence begets violence and aggression begets aggression. It’s a concept that the U.S. government and military seem unable to learn – despite the numerous opportunities to do so. If the goal here is peace – or even the prevention of future acts of North Korean aggression – then raising the military stakes doesn’t seem to be the path.
In a world as interconnected as ours, I reject the notion that you can better your plight by negatively impacting another. When we maim, injure or attack another, we maim, injure and attack ourselves.
July 27, 2010 at 8:16 am
I agree. Fighting for peace is like f*****g for virginity.
July 27, 2010 at 8:29 am
You post just makes us all aware you know nothing about how our military operates or international politics. Hereby noted.
July 27, 2010 at 8:41 am
Agreed. Hegemonaic power (and the USA is the only regional hegemony in the world) is relative. Therefore, to maintain power (measured by resources – financial or military) one must increase one’s own power or decrease others’. It’s not a good system, but it’s what keeps America so affluent.
July 27, 2010 at 8:51 am
LOL, I think it’s pretty obvious to anyone with an ounce of sense that the North Koreans didn’t shoot that ship out of the water. They know that they will just get given another sanction by the idiots at the UN. If it WAS a North Korean that fired it, it wasn’t by order of the Dear Leader, that I’m sure of
America is just being predictably pathetic in their attempts to show off to the world. Aggression does not win over the North Koreans, we know that!
Tom
July 27, 2010 at 9:00 am
WTF!!! And I don’t care to know how it all works….that just perpetuates all the insanity the US is so adept in doing.
July 27, 2010 at 9:04 am
“When we hold on to our opinions with aggression, no matter how valid our cause, we are simply adding more aggression to the planet, and violence and pain increase. Cultivating nonaggression is cultivating peace.” by Pema Chodron from her book ‘When Things Fall Apart’.
July 27, 2010 at 9:15 am
Davey says ” Violence begets violence and aggression begets aggression. ” This is not a hard fact. Those without fear and enough love have no need to strike back.
July 27, 2010 at 10:05 am
WHILE I SEE YOUR POINTS & WOULD OVERALL TEND TO AGREE / WHAT BETTER WAY TO ALIENATE YOUR (DAVEY WAVEY LLC OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT) MILITARY SUPPORTERS…I’VE ALWAYS TAKEN DW’S HIPPIE MISSIVES TONGUE IN CHEEK…THIS WAS A BIT OVER THE TOP…MAYBE YOU COULD THROW SOME/ANY KIND WORDS TO THOSE THAT DO SUFFER IN THE MILITARY…ON THE GROUND SOLDIERS THAT ARE SWEATING BALLS WHILE YOU & I GET TO SURF THE NET…I DID 3 TOURS MYSELF…& I AM TELLING YOU THERE ARE TONS OF GAY SOLDIERS THAT COULD USE THE SUPPORT OF PEOPLE LIKE DW….
July 27, 2010 at 10:16 am
Out of interest has there been a decade since WWII when america wasn’t at war with at least one country?
July 27, 2010 at 10:28 am
DW-I agree and I am not even a Pacifist or am I a warmonger. I do believe some wars in extreme cases are justified. Such as WWII. Soon enough that evil man in North Korea will be dead-and maybe true peace will come on the Korean peninisula. We must remember North and South Korea are still in the state of war. Technically speaking the Korean war has not ended no peace treaty has ever been signed. Only a Armistice agreement-other words only a seize fire. If war would break out again we will probably see a war involving nuclear weapons. My goodness we pray this does not happen. No one will deny the old fart in North Korea is a evil man straving, torturing his own people. If fact we know very little what’s going on in North Korea. The entire country is sealed off from the world. Free press are not allowed in. Catholics live
their faith underground and Bishops and Cardinals identity remain secret because they will be executed. We can only pray the governments of the world-including the jokers in office here in America practice patience. Thanks
July 27, 2010 at 10:47 am
While it is true that violence often leads to more violence, it is also true that if someone gets away with something then they are much more likely to do it again. Therefore you’re kind of in a jam as of what to do which is why sometimes it’s better to play on the safe side instead of waiting for things to get really bad. Technically, anyway, what the US is doing is really more of an attempt at intimidation and a stern warning than actual violence at the moment.
July 27, 2010 at 1:30 pm
This imperialism is what’s bankrupting the U.S., not making it affluent. Read the trilogy by historian Chalmers Johnson- Blowback, Sorrows of Empire and Nemesis.
July 27, 2010 at 1:30 pm
All though I didn’t put it in the right words, my point is that being a homosexual in the US military can be AGONIZINGLY lonely, and I wish that people in positions like DW, i.e. massive influence over other Homosexuals, would be sensitive to that fact and not start posts w/ missives such as: “Can you imagine not being able to learn from your experiences? If you answered yes, then you must be the U.S. government or a branch of the military.” THIS IS INCREDIBLY INSULTING TO A VAST MANY MEN & WOMEN OUT THERE,WHOM SERVE TO FURTHER (HIS) SOCIETY (OR ARE YOU A CANADIAN CITIZEN NOW DW? JUST B/C YOU GET CANADIAN PORK SAMPLES DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE AN AMERICAN BY BIRTH, EX-PATRIOT OR NOT, YOU COULD SHOW SOME CONSIDERATION FOR YOUR REPRESENTATIVE MILITARY), FOR SOMEONE THAT PREACHES THE RULES OF THE UNIVERSE AND THEIR OWN SOCIOLOGICAL ISSUES, YOU WOULD THINK THAT HE WOULD BE A BIT MORE SENSITIVE TO THOSE WHO ACTUALLY PROTECT THAT BALANCE—AS IN MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT SOME (i.e. PACIFISTS) CAN AND WILL NOT.
July 27, 2010 at 1:36 pm
I agree with this- it seems pretty clear that the N. Koreans attacked that S. Korean ship. It’s not a good policy to let them think that they can take those sorts of actions with impunity. I’m certainly not arguing that there should be any military action against N. Korea, but letting them get away with murder isn’t smart either.
July 27, 2010 at 3:51 pm
._. i want to leave America.I’m thinking Canada :3 Americans just like to fight, its so corrupt.
July 27, 2010 at 4:15 pm
DW… That little man in NK will always do what he can to piss off the world. He wants to rule the world… and he wants SK.. he will do what he can to get it. We are the great protector of the world… its just a fact of the civilized world.. there will always be war… peace is just a temporary thing that occurs between wars. This is afterall the real world… not a fantasy land. I guess if you dont like it move somewhere else.
July 27, 2010 at 4:35 pm
I think you may have helped prove DW’s point!
July 27, 2010 at 4:38 pm
OK, PLEASE LISTEN. DW’s message of peace was stated with aggression. Also there “is a peace that only comes from war.” Although this fact sucks, it is true. In WWII Germany was going to conquer the earth and kill everyone who didnt share their views. We did not enter the war until an enemy struck us first. If we wait now, then the enemy will strike with what we used to end that war. ATOM. I believe that all violence is WRONG, but I do not bash the military or my government for attempting to defend Americans and prevent a violent leader in Korea from pressing forward in his plans. Please understand that men and women die to protect rights like the ones expressed on this site.
July 27, 2010 at 4:46 pm
The gov is just showing N.K and the rest of the world that they are not going to give in to them and that they mean business. I don’t agree with what they are doing, I also agree aggression does increase aggression but it does also lower moral and is intimidating.
July 27, 2010 at 5:47 pm
“If we wait now, then the enemy will strike with what we used to end that war. ATOM.” Ummmm sorry, but cheney, bush, rumsfeld, powell and rice already used this script. They got us into Iraq for no sane reason and caused nothing but killing, maiming, ethnic cleansing and misery. And made the U.S. much less safe than it was before that invasion and occupation.
July 27, 2010 at 7:28 pm
I think what some of you are missing(and I am not perfect on understanding all this)is that maybe the US Navy is showing their might, but they as well are showing the North Koreans that the South is our allies and we will help them out when something happens.
Do any of you really think North Korea is going to do a nuclear attack??? I doubt it. We are much more techincally advanced than we were when we were in their country. We don’t even have to set foot in their country.
Also some of you should do a google search and see what the militarys of the world have. We the US are NOT all mighty. WE have technology and a bigger navy than most. BUt in other stuff we don’t even come close.
And if some of you disagree with what is going on. Then perhaps you should apply or run for government positions so you can make changes and not just talk about how wrong we do this or that.
And I am all for peace. And I don’t think we should be policing the world. BUT, we have allies and we have to be there for them as they would be there for us. Just like you might stick up for your closes friend or family member.
July 27, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Davey,
Your geopolitics needs a little tuning. You must believe in “moral equivalency”, that N. Korea is no worse than the U.S. If you live in N. Korea, buddy, you would have been dead/killed years ago. True, we need to be careful about our response. But if you haven’t followed events on the Korean peninsula (which you obviously haven’t), you wouldn’t have made such a flimsy, shallow, silly-ass comment. Educate yourself, Davey. After all, you educate others in your business so learn your own lessons. Thanks.
July 27, 2010 at 11:27 pm
First off, I like the new blog logo. Very nice.
But, I don’t really agree with you on this one. I am by no means in favor of needless violence, I think that sometimes it is necessary. The leaders in North Korea are.. not the brightest in the bunch. Someone needs to show them that their attacks will not be worth the price they will pay. . . Sometimes we have to do things we don’t like, to get a result that we all desire.
It would be really awesome tho, if we could all just live in peace. We are all human beings, no one is greater than any other.
Love you Davey!
July 28, 2010 at 1:00 am
Beautifully written! It’s quite inspiring to see I’m not the only one who has felt that way. I’m curious as to why one person can brutally murder so many people in war, and so many lives are ruined, or negatively impacted, and yet for some reason they are these honorable brave soldiers! When regular people murder one person in a much more humanly way than war does, it’s so terrible!
I’m not trying to justify murder, it’s 100% wrong, I’m trying to dejustify war.
I love you Daveywavey!
July 28, 2010 at 1:14 am
I am sorry Tom I cannot agree with the quote you have placed here. Just before the beginning of WWII both France and England did not enforce the Treaty of Versi and allowed the Germans to occupy the Rhine river valley, They became so emboldened that they invaded Poland and thus started WWII, When if France and England had just enforced the treaty the Germans would had to of withdrawn. Who knows WWII may have been avoided. The force we are showing is just a show; it probably was the North Koreans that sank the boat. A dictatorship survives only because the ones that could oppose you are afraid to do so. The “Dear Leader” had to flex his muscles some how, what better way to say ‘Hey, I am still crazy and unpredictable then to stand up to the only super power in the world.
July 28, 2010 at 1:21 am
good message and idea. but realistically it will not work due to human nature. look at the history books. if someone acts violently towards you and u sit there, they will keep acting violently towards until they take away ur country. example: germany during WWII. just sayin’. i really do agree with your idea though dw and it’s so pure, but live up to it. break the illusion!
July 28, 2010 at 2:05 am
it’s because they’re not trying to create peace. they’re soldiers. they’re trying to make war so whoever has BEEN profiting off the sale of weapons and army supplies can KEEP profiting. it’s about money. follow the trail of money.
July 28, 2010 at 3:38 am
Dear David,
I am automatically offended that I wasn’t mentioned in this post…or at least linked.
Signed,
Your best friend Jessica in South Korea
July 28, 2010 at 7:17 am
….and there’s ALWAYS the money trail.
July 28, 2010 at 7:29 am
Wow, really. Have you ever been to Iraq or the Middle East? … Some of the people over there are very nice (friendly and caring), but some hate us with a passion (some just because we are liberal) and if we could sit back and avoid them like we could before new age weapons then we probably would, but we cant… Also, Korea has openly promoted that its intention is to possess both nuclear capability and dominant positions on the world stage. THEY TEST FIRE MISSILS IN OUR DIRECTION. I think that is a large enough threat to be considered a future attack worth preventing.
July 28, 2010 at 8:37 am
YOU ARE IN DANGER OF BEING ARROGANT.
OUR generation have not had to fight for our freedom so we do not value it.
July 28, 2010 at 8:39 am
YOU ARE IN DANGER OF BEING ARROGANT.
OUR generation have not had to fight for our freedom so we do not value it.
** sadly bullies do not behave kindly because you are “nice” – nor is it good to leave other people suffering. REMEMBER 46 people died.
July 28, 2010 at 10:32 am
Why are you shouting?
July 28, 2010 at 10:34 am
Well said.
July 28, 2010 at 11:15 am
It is all too horrible! People should be able to learn to live in Peace. But we don’t seem to manage it. There appear to be too many other desires that keep coming first. JFK had the right idea when he urged that everyone become consciencous (spelling?) objectors. That too has not caught on. One of the problems seems to be the sort of Macho behavior and speech that Senator John McCann profers. We are really fortunate that sufficent people voted against him in 2008. And we can only hope that voters will keep from voting Sarah Pahlin into the White House in 2012—and—I am concerned that voters might!! Then watch out for the war that happens after that!!
July 28, 2010 at 12:35 pm
… and other countries where Davey would love to live like Iran or Syria or Saudi or China have no mad control freak instincts at all do they.
I am sure China has no interest at all in the oil wealth or mineral wealth of ither countries just as it has nothing to do with their occupation of Tibet.
July 28, 2010 at 12:41 pm
oh you would be so happy if Amerioca was not there to defend us all wouldn’t you.
That nice Mr Hitler would be in charge,
**
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR – it may come true…. pleas ewait till I am dead, Wailing is really irriatating and I am sure teh whole workd would hear you.
WHY are we so obsessed with distrusting our own countries?
Be sceptical at times yes but its more than taht we hear, its ios sourt cyunicism.
There are far mastier forces at work in the world.
If you save hard you could always fly to and settle in North Korea.
Know which side your bread is buttered… and don’t give hostage to people to the real villains by your moaning.
July 28, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Bullies always stop if we are nice don’t they. After all why havce a police force? The rapists will simply stop raping etc.
Yes let’s try to encourage gentleness – but lets not be fools.
July 28, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Enough love – sure.
I hope I have someone better than you around to help me if ever I am attacked.
It does not stop because you love them.
Real forgiving love is hard work.
July 28, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Would you really be prepared to live undefended?
Do you really believe that ignoring problems makes them go away?
I think you are too well protected.
How abouit a little gratitude to those help you live in freedom – happily moaning away but never having anything to fear.
**
Just think – it is not trendy or sweet but it is very necessary.
July 28, 2010 at 1:31 pm
DW, if your philosophy were to have been embraced by this country we would still be under British Rule.. America would in effect be nothing more than an extension of a Canadian Province..
We would all be speaking German and/or Japanese today..
We would long ago have been marched into NAZI ovens, made into lamp shades, be forced to wear cute little pink triangles or would have learned how to spend our days inside a concentration camp Every Day of our lives.
Given your incredible NIT-WITTED view.. (through which NO LESSON has been learned..) Slavery would still be the acceptable standard of the world.
Here is an undeniable fact of life DW..
Peace Always Follows Victory..
How Peace is achieved is the real question.. Is it through the use of force required to stand up to the likes of the never ending supply of Bullies like Hitler? Which insures Liberty will survive in the face of it’s aggressors. Or is Peace more important than Liberty and submitting to the Hitlers the proper choice.. your choice?
DW, if you think Peace is more important than Liberty, then all you have to do is go commit some serious crime so you may end up in Prison. There you will live in Peace.. and never have to be bothered by the responsibilities of Liberty. But even there, bullies in that Prison, will still demonstrate to you that like the bullies running countries such as North Korea outside your prison.. Will Never leave you alone.
No matter where you are.. your choice is to stand up to the EVER-PRESENT bullies of the world.. and to do so with aggression and violence that matches theirs. When you say, “Mr. Hitler I refuse to match your aggression and I won’t participate in your violence..” They will laugh in your face as they crush you.
Deal with it.
Otherwise they will dominate and oppress you, your family, your friends, your country and every single thing in this world that you value.. for the rest of your life.. if you fail to meet THEIR aggression with aggression.. or match THEIR violence with YOUR violence.
THAT is a lesson of the history of the world.. from the beginning of time.. The Clarity of that message stands on it’s own merit.
The question for you DW.. is will You learn from it?
July 28, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Davey i would love to spend time with you and talk & get to know you a lot better i would love to meet you!!
July 28, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Hmmm…so much anger. I can understand why you remain “anonymous”. What’s in a name?
May I simply add Peace is never won by waging war. Brains win out over brawn every time. Anger only makes us blind to the reality we are in. Why take out your anger on Davey when you have the delete key handy?
July 28, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Ditto.
Small reminder. Soldiers serve the public! not the other way around, altho’ some would like it better that way. When citizens disagree with the military policy of our CIVILIAN government, it is their responsibility to voice that disagreement. When soldiers don’t like the arrangement they get fired. Ask Gen. McCrystal. Better yet remember Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Truman kicked his butt out of the army for thinking he knew better than his elected civilian boss, Harry (Give ‘em Hell) Truman.
By the way, Canadians have troops in The US War in Afghanistan too. We refused to help out in Iraq, but work with our NATO counterparts in Afghanistan, which the US under Bush, ignored after “Mission Accopmlished”
So please, no lectures. And your CAPS are insulting to the rest of us. Military service does not give you the privilege of shouting down your fellow citizens. BTW, thanks for your service.
July 28, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Welcome, friend!
July 28, 2010 at 5:51 pm
“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, just makes everybody blind and toothless.”
July 28, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Why wait Jonasan? Please do us all a favor and get the hell out of here.. NOW!! See you later… Good Bye.. Get! Be Gone fool.. You are smelling up the place with your lack of appreciation for the ones that you will Surely call upon the next time you and the other ingrates of the world need someone to come to your rescue.. Just keep on keeping on in the position you proudly assume.. which is that of the Useful Idiot.. a position that can only be represented by the Willfully Ignorant.. such as yourself.
July 28, 2010 at 5:55 pm
The experts agree with you Tom – to an extent. They also don’t think it was Kim Jong-il. Its currently believed that it was on orders from one of his children, in order to consolidate his own power within North Korea, etc.
So you’re only half right, just as I believe DW is only half right. It would be nice if we didn’t need the military, and I don’t think the military should ever be used as an outright intimidation factor, however militaries ARE required, because not everyone in this world shares the same values and morals as we do, and some of those try to impose their own morals on the rest of us. If there was no military, how would we defend ourselves?
July 28, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Davey, I was in the U.S. military, for three years in the Navy (Kennedy years, beginning of Johnson’s presidency). We were involved in stupid and self-defeating U.S. efforts to buck up nasty regimes all over the world. Well, none of them did much of any good and they were costly to the taxpayers and in lives lost or blighted. A pox on it all!
Pax, Jerry Parker
July 28, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Not that it would happen now (with nukes we all lose), but history-wise, we lost to the Chinese in North Korea, not to the North Koreans. And the North Koreans remember it.