JOE PETTIT’s Post

This Does Not Sound Anything Like a Warmonger: "All the horrors of all the ages were brought together, and not only armies but whole populations were thrust into the midst of them. The mighty educated States involved conceived -- not without reason -- that their very existence was at stake. Neither peoples nor rulers drew the line at any deed which they thought could help them to win. Germany, having let Hell loose, kept well in the van of terror; but she was followed step by step by the desperate and ultimately avenging nations she had assailed. Every outrage against humanity or international law was repaid by reprisals -- often of a greater scale and of longer duration. No truce or parley mitigated the strife of the armies. The wounded died between the lines: the dead moldered into the soil. Merchant ships and neutral ships and hospital ships were sunk on the seas and all on board left to their fate or killed as they swam. Every effort was made to starve whole nations into submission without regard to age or sex. Cities and monuments were smashed by artillery. Bombs from the air were cast down indiscriminately. Poison gas in many forms stifled or seared the soldiers. Liquid fire was projected upon their bodies. Men fell from the air in flames or were smothered often slowly in the dark recesses of the sea. The fighting strength of armies was limited only by the manhood of their countries. Europe and large parts of Asia and Africa became one vast battlefield on which after years of struggle not armies but nations broke and ran. When all was over, Torture and Cannibalism were the only two expedients that the civilized, scientific, Christian States had been able to deny themselves: and they were of doubtful utility." ~ Winston Churchill, as Secretary of State for War (1919-21), from a note jotted down on a sheet of War Office paper. Source: Paul Johnson, 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 (1991 rev. ed.)

Cornelis Pepsee's opinion: Perhaps we have been living in an era where life has become too comfortable, devoid of physical threats and lacking excitement. Safety and job security have become commonplace, almost taken for granted. The lessons of World War II, with its immense suffering and the loss of approximately seventy million lives, underscore the sacrifices made by past generations for the freedoms we now enjoy. There is a clear call for a more socially conscious global democracy, one that safeguards against individuals seeking power for the wrong reasons. History, particularly through figures like Hitler, highlights the dangers of dictatorship and the self-serving nature of those in positions of power. The current situation is disheartening. Recalling the struggles of my father, who faced extreme hardships to provide for his family, including risking his safety to obtain food, serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of the past. Stories of Jewish individuals hiding under dire circumstances illustrate the desperate lengths people went to survive. Today, witnessing leaders like Trump and certain European figures prioritize their agendas over the well-being of others is deeply troubling. It is a plea for introspection and careful consideration, as we must not take our current stability for granted, recognizing that such times may never return.

We will win! During the last couple of years, a couple of countries have started each their very violent military campaign against a neighboring country, and in both cases they claim that it is them who are being attacked, just defending themselves, etc. It strikes me how similar the rethorics of the two state leaders is: "We will win", "those who speak badly about what we do are the idiots of the enemy", and "the international court of justice is a scam". None of them seem to think about themselves as potentially wrong. What puzzles me is that this behaviour calls for most of the world's population to be either with them or against them. They themselves speak up this polarization. There can be nothing in between full admiration and support vs. despice and protest. Is it really this easy to paint a black and white picture of a situation? By just denying that there could be nuances, that each of them could be wrong in something. Maybe one of the countries wasn't attacked, when it comes to it, maybe it really was themselves who decided to attack. Maybe they could just go home, apologize, and then there would no longer be a war. Of course, all the dead would not come alive again, and all the damage done would not be forgotten. But admitting being wrong could possibly lead to peace. It looks like, though, if peace is the worst of all thinkable scenarios for those two leaders. It looks like they have painted themselves up into a corner from where the only escape is to win the war they started, with a total subordination of the other party, and a continued lie about what really happened. And when they are standing there, in that corner, and it should be clear to everybody around them what is going on - strong forces step in to support them. Sharing the lie with them, sharing the claim that only winning is an option. And everybody gives them standing ovations. Applauding their madness. This way, we will all loose.

Did you know May 20th, 2024 North Carolina Joins the Confederacy: A Pivotal Moment in Civil War History On May 20, 1861, North Carolina made a historic decision that would forever alter its trajectory and that of the United States. Becoming the eleventh state to secede from the Union, North Carolina's departure underscored the deepening national crisis that erupted into the Civil War. The state’s secession was driven by mounting tensions over states’ rights, slavery, and economic differences between the North and South. This decision was not made lightly; it came after much debate and considerable pressure from neighboring states already aligned with the Confederacy.   North Carolina’s secession bolstered the Confederate States' strength and strategic positioning, significantly impacting the war's progression. As a state with valuable resources and a strategic coastal location, its departure from the Union provided the Confederacy with critical advantages. The secession also reflected the profound divisions within the state itself, as not all North Carolinians supported the move. This internal conflict mirrored the broader national struggle, highlighting the complex and multifaceted nature of the Civil War. North Carolina’s choice to secede on this day in 1861 remains a significant and poignant reminder of the enduring impact of the Civil War on the United States.

VICTORY WITH NO SURVIVORS?! WAR: A SELF-DESTRUCTION Why are people at war? The scenes of the aftermath of war stand as a testimony to the results of human greed. The greed to become to more powerful and influential. WARS at the stake of innocent commoners?! 🤜 Battlegrounds baffle them disrupting normalcy. People can't go to work. Kids can't go to school. Everything is brought to a standstill due to the war. Imagine a man getting into your house with guns and weapons and terrorizing you. Isn't it Mind-boggling?! 😨 🤜Just because these people belong to a particular country they bear all the assaults and harassment committed against them. 🤜A city that had been so magnificent and lively a few days ago, now had become a graveyard with screams of people at every corner, the pinging of bullets, and the dropping of bombs. 🤜Why wars when they bring devastating collateral damage -the damage incurred on both sides? They bring long-lasting effects on a country's economy, infrastructure, public health provision, and a lot more. 📣 We as global citizens must nurture the importance of peace in our society. Accept the differences and foster a sense of universal brotherhood. #towardsAwarfreeworld

ARMY, A CHIMNEY IN SUMMER? Lord Burghley believed that 'soldiers in peace are like chimneys in summer'. He simply meant that in the time of peace a full-fledged standing army is of little use. But with the succeeding lines we will see that how he is right and where he is mistaken? A standing army is always an ally of a tyrannical regime. A standing army is an essential of a despotic state to establish a totalitarian rule and suppress the liberty of the general public. Sometimes, due to its superior physical power, a standing army overrule its masters and become masters themselves, and rule general public with an iron fist. I, despite of above-mentioned dangers, partially disagree with the concept that there should be no army in times of peace. What use is the shelter created during a storm, rather there should be a shelter ready before the storm. A loyal standing army (loyal to the boundaries determined by law) is always an irreplaceable pillar of the state, it helps to protect the citizens and their liberties from any external or internal danger. The bone of contention arises when an army left barracks and indulge in the matters that must be dealt by politicians. The army is always ill-trained to run political institution which causes fall of a state, lack of peace, etc. In conclusion, for a state to succeed, it must have a strong army, but it should be heavily regulated by the law. Both politicians and society must ensure that the army do not exceed its constitutional boundaries. The absence of an army will cause more suffering than its presence. Lastly, a strong politically mobilized society is far more important than a standing army. Muhammad Arham Saeed 23rd March, 2024

How do we stand as a Republic! “Foreign policy,wrote Walter Lippmann in 1943 in an oft-quoted phrase, "consists in bringing into balance, with a comfortable surplus of power in reserve, the nation’s commitments and the nation’s power." If this balance exists, the foreign policy will command domestic support. If commitments exceed power, insolvency results which generates deep political dissension. Well, how would Walter think we are doing? I assert the Global Liberal Hegemonists, for all their wild, self-serving policies, based on outsized beliefs in their abilities and ignorance of human nature--China anyone- unfounded capabilities, their greed, have led America to the Brink of Disaster and Civil Strife. It has been 30 years of post-Cold War Follies!! However, let us not confuse ourselves. The disaster awaiting us was not due to "Oops' wrong policies, as these anti-American Grifters never sought the domestic tranquility that FP and DP are intended for the purpose of strengthening our intended Constitutional Republic! No, America is not on the list of Priorities. We do not count, but we will! I think Walter would have contempt for these wannabe world history makers, as would the philosopher Reinald Neihbur, who smelled hubris a mile off! So far, we have no accountability, but instead, I suspect. America Wrath is around the corner.

This is the anniversary of when America joined The Great War (World War I), and America and the world would never be the same. Consequences included the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution (securing Women’s Suffrage), the inevitable decline of colonialism, the massive expansion of federal power in America, and setting the stage for World War II. We won the War for Democracy, but are in danger of losing our liberties if we don’t understand the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and our history. https://lnkd.in/eaU3gQN

Whose side is Civil War on? Many of the negative responses to Civil War boil down to Alex Garland’s failure to tell us whose side he is on. People went in to Civil War expecting the thrill of confirmation bias, of being told that our side, in the ever more polarised politics of the United States, is the right side. Instead Alex Garland throws in references to right-wing militias and “Portland Maoists” that suggest he’s not very happy with either side. Texas allying with California is a useful way of indicating that this civil war is not between the sides we might expect. But it’s also a MASSIVE complement to California and Texas. When the chips are down, and tyranny is arising, America’s two most powerful states will overcome any difference and unite to fight for liberty. Let’s hope that is so. Because Alex Garland isn’t angry with Texans or Californians. He isn’t angry with Liberals or with Conservatives. Alex Garland isn’t angry with Americans. Alex Garland isn’t even angry with war. Alex Garland is angry with all the people, left or right, Texan or Californian, American or otherwise Performatively LARPing our way towards a senseless conflict just because the LARP is quite entertaining Analysing the meaning of Civil War, this weekend's video essay on the Science Fiction channel Link - https://lnkd.in/g6fgFsRu

How do we stand as a Republic! “Foreign policy,wrote Walter Lippmann in 1943 in an oft-quoted phrase, "consists in bringing into balance, with a comfortable surplus of power in reserve, the nation’s commitments and the nation’s power." If this balance exists, the foreign policy will command domestic support. If commitments exceed power, insolvency results which generates deep political dissension. Well, how would Walter think we are doing? I assert the Global Liberal Hegemonists, for all their wild, self-serving policies, based on outsized beliefs in their abilities and ignorance of human nature--China anyone- unfounded capabilities, their greed, have led America to the Brink of Disaster and Civil Strife. It has been 30 years of post-Cold War Follies!! However, let us not confuse ourselves. The disaster awaiting us was not due to "Oops' wrong policies, as these anti-American Grifters never sought the domestic tranquility that FP and DP are intended for the purpose of strengthening our intended Constitutional Republic! No, America is not on the list of Priorities. We do not count, but we will! I think Walter would have contempt for these wannabe world history makers, as would the philosopher Reinald Neihbur, who smelled hubris a mile off! So far, we have no accountability, but instead, I suspect. America Wrath is around the corner.