“That's it, mum, goodbye,” he is dying, dead, a Ukrainian soldier in his last moments caught on helmet camera makes his peace. The eight minutes leading up to his death have been shared on social media, a close combat struggle between him and his Russian counterpart. With his left eye stabbed, his own blade turned onto him and pushed into his neck, the Ukrainian soldier talks calmly to his foe who stops the attack. They share a moment, a break in the absurdity of war. “The world is so beautiful. Let me leave calmly. Go away, please.” The Russian soldier bids his enemy farewell and adds, “You...
Do You Really Meme It?
I was going to write a comment on some current discourse, the usual diatribe of impulsive viral outrage invented by those who live online. A reaction to trending tantrums. The usual produce from memetards who vomit digital junk the algorithms, whether one follows them or not the social media feed insists we see it. Then the likes, shares, comments and responses by those who help to fan the flames of nothing. All the while behind the memes are children, mostly little boys or another Ian Miles Chong, so desperate for wealth and fame that they sit behind their screens and consummate junk. I...
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth is the mantra that we hear, especially now but on and off over the coming year. Those who use violence, will smile it out. Those who profit from war may cheer those words from corporate offices. Those who hate will do so for entire collectives of people, children included. Politicians will lie words of peace with the deceit they are loved for. Christians will die in the land where a Jew was born and died to become their saviour, while that very land is buried beneath rubble and bodies. The three religions of an Abrahamic God will fight, kill and wage war as ideologies but for...
Anti-War Blog – Do They Really Know It’s Christmas?
Every year as the end of December crawls near, the spirit of Christmas grips those sometimes Christians, even atheists join in and celebrate it as a cultural habit and the true believers further confirm their faith. The spirit of celebration is one of joy, community, family, love, a time to rejoice the birth of a God or son of one, or the one true King, the birth of Christ. War has waged over this period, fought by those who call him their prince of peace, they chose the State and the profession of killing above their faith in God. In every other day of the year, such a faith is at peace...
Liars of Valor
There are some names that are sacred heroes in American military history, such as Alvin York and Audie Murphy, men with charming virtue who fought in "good wars." But since the American defeat in Vietnam, war has become distinctly complicated, and so too has the depiction of the heroes who fight them. Now we're presented with men of courage and skill who, in their own words, had to resort in some instances to killing civilians or breaking the rules of war. They're treated to books and movies, and in the age of podcasts are given the ability to paint warfare as both romantic and tragically...
Anti-War Blog – Osama Bin Laden won
Bin Laden Won He won and the US warmasters are celebrating. Imagine rejoicing after a government falls to the descendants of Al-Qaeda. We don’t have to because the Washington gang are doing just that. The Islamo-Fascist Jihadis who terrorised the minds of the West for decades are again ‘moderate rebels’. In the twenty-odd years since the 2001 attacks, the US has found and re-discovered other enemies. North Korea has always been there to hate and fear. After the attacks, it was Russia who offered bases and support. But they are the (Soviet) Bear again. The invasion of Afghanistan would not...
Becoming the French Bulldog
I could hear it, the snarling struggle to live as deformed nostrils fought for each breath. A snarl of liquid flesh flapping about, then a mild grow. Such a process just for an intake of air. The weather was not too hot though it’s tongue dragged from it’s mouth. Drool and the essence of life leaving it with each and every desperate breathe. Four short legs barely carrying it’s barrel chested frame. Tied to a leash, as a human owner dragged it across the grass. Usually it was carried. Any walk over a short distance, simply too far. Too much. “Oh, isn’t he cute.” “I want one! So adorable.”...
Anti-War Blog – She Was Only Ten Years Old
She was only ten years of age. A girl. A daughter. Innocent. Tala Abu Ajwa was roller skating in early September when Israeli government missiles took her life, along with several other civilians. The image of Tala’s pink roller skates still attached to her young body should haunt us. Remind us that war is evil. But she died weeks ago, the cycle has moved on. Many more have died, she is less relevant to outsiders than Katty Perry’s backpack kid. Apparently for many, less relevant as well. Earlier this year we heard a small girl weep, “I miss bread.” Another had her little body pulled from a...