READY, AIM ... PEACE

Gunman Opens Fire At Candlelight Vigil For Baltimore Shooting Victim.  The story is linked below

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox?compose=155def7eb83fd205

A blogger's response: We have a culture of violence in this country and we need brave politicians who won't be afraid to use some truths about ourselves. We are a violent nation a violent people who have a callous disregard for life. We need to promote a culture that respects life.

My Response: I have been saying that for years. Yet, there is another humane side to our country. One cannot deny that. To assess it, generally -- since the dawn of notated history we are no different than other nations that have usurped power.  In modernity Europe, of course, in the 20th century millions, perhaps even hundreds of millions were killed. Germans of WWII fame on their way to world conquest killed many millions of innocents. Vietnam killed a million Vietnamese and 50,000 US soldiers wounding tens of thousands.  The War in Iraq needs no statistical analysis.  One word sums it up: AWFUL.

Our nation, I think, is no exception to the general rule. The difference is that most of the electorate THINKS we are the most exceptional nation and those who hold power dupe others through a nationalist "conservative" fantasy land trying to sell that "exceptionalism" not only to those here who buy it but to the world many of whom do not. There is, too, the ever-present money that is made from war at the expense of middle and lower class bodies who share only in the wounds and death it bestows.  The media and social media peddles it.

The mayhem in the Middle East is a direct result of the US Iraq invasion based on lies for power's own nefarious, mendacious and self-aggrandizing reasons. Our nation dismembered a Middle East tinderbox placing sects who were once at a strong-arm controlled peace with each other now in torturous never-ending eternal sectarian war.

We can choose to emphasize the better angels of our nature, eschew eternal war, stop the murder of each other and concentrate on those things that really DO advance mankind. Human beings do better when they work with one another and care about each other. No one can live in constant mayhem.  Death and destruction will be its legacy.  Let us emphasize that which can advance humankind and NOT destroy it!

IF THERE IS A FALSE PROPHET TRUMP IS HE.  IF HE IS ELECTED END TIMES CHAOS IS WITHIN SIGHT, THE GIFT OF THIS UGLY TROJAN HORSE.  CLIMATE CHANGE DESTRUCTION WILL BE HIS BESTOWAL.  HIS WORDS ENGENDER NOTHING BUT HATE AND CONFLICT PITTING ONE TRIBE AGAINST THE OTHER TO ACHIEVE THE NARCISSISTIC POWER FOR WHICH HE THIRSTS. HIS THIRST WILL NEVER BE QUENCHED.  HE NEEDS TO BE RELEGATED TO THE ASH BIN OF HISTORY AND HILLARY CLINTON NEEDS TO BE ELECTED TO THE APEX OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY!  THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE.