Why is peace such a dirty word?

[whosinpower]

Today - at a press conference President Bush stated that it would be up to future presidents and Iraqi governments to decide whether or not the US will pull out of Iraq.

So there you have it. If you didn't figure it out before - Bush states it in a clear and concise manner. He will never ever end the war/occupation on his watch. He cannot. He lacks the strength, forsight, vision and desire for peace.
He lacks the tools to do the job.

And so....it is up to the American public to end it. You have a choice. The path to peace....or the road to endless war. All you'll get from Bush is what he stated - insecurity, loss, and pain from a nation gripped by fear and war. That is all he can offer.

Censure is not enough. He must be removed from office. A thorn forced into the paw of a lion will not heal on its own...and it will never be welcomed by the body. That thorn is American troops occupying Iraq today. It is crippling a nation. It is creating angst, insecurity and unrest across the entire middle east.

I know I am being simplistic to a complicated problem. But - first things first.....get rid of Bush and then work towards a negotiated timetable for withdrawl. Get out. End it. Walk the path to peace and abandon the road of war. Why is peace such a dirty word anyways?

[IsItJustMe]

1. Ignorant people only know one way to solve problems, and that's by force.

They have never developed the cognitive abilities to deal with difficult situations in a mature manner. Hense, you get statements like you are either for us or against us.

Of course, in real life, such statements of simplicity are dangerous and lead to situations like we have today with Iraq.

[NYCGirl]

2. What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?

As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin’ for light in the darkness of insanity.

I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside,
There’s one thing I wanna know:
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?

And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

’Cause each time I feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?

So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

’Cause each time I feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?


(Written by Nick Lowe; recorded by Elvis Costello)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Manly Men tote shotguns and talk tough. Peace isn't "manly".

Killing people is "heroic", saving people is "weak".

Just look at the statuary devoted to killers as compared to that devoted to peacemakers or humanitarians.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Quite ironic

that peace is a dirty word to those who proclaim their "christianity." Those who hate in the name of Jesus Christ want as many "ragheads" to die in Iraq as is possible; and preferably the killing will be done by someone elses children. Also, there is incredible ignorance in the republican party whose philosophy obviously is that war is good and easy ergo Peace is hard and not worth persuing. Their ignorance has the world upside down. If we can spend billions and billions for war, we can sure as hell spend money persuing peace. I say negotiate till the cows come home. Stop the intense use of the war machine and we can afford to do exactly that; and provide some peace in the lower ninth ward in New Orleans as well and do god knows what for the good of the people. But what the fuck do I know, I'm just a wackjob liberal (a law abiding, tax paying, productive, retired veteran wackjob liberal!)

[JohnnyRingo]

5. Watch Neil Cavuto on Fox News

When the stock market surges, they credit the war and the firm hand of the "war president" for making tons of money for investors.

Peace threatens profit, and the republican faithful have always fallen into line to oppose it. During the Viet Nam era plenty of kids got their asses kicked by what we called "rednecks" at the time for wearing a peace sign.

It worked so well at the time that in later times of peace the wing-nuts adapted the tactic to environmentalists, or what they defined as "tree-huggers" because environmentalists threaten profit.

The war against corporate lawsuits also was effective as "conservatives" learned the term "ambulance chasers" because lawsuits threatens profits.

These repubs are very good at words and at getting their base voters onboard for their cause.

[PDittie]

10. That's it; peace doesn't make any money

Our economy would take a tremedous hit if the Lockheeds and General Dynamics and Halliburtons couldn't bribe Congressmen to secure a contract.

[WI_DEM]

6. because it would kill business for the war profiteers all around

the world.

[lpbk2713]

7. That's what I was thinking.

There's little profit for the powerful in peace. War is good business.

[VOX]

9. Sadly true. n/t

[stray cat]

8. Peace is often a simplistic nonanswer

I want to hear solutions from people who promote peace not simply a slogan that says give peace a chance. Peace is great but tell me how it is achieved in real terms with real problems and real human nature.

[Ufomammut]

11. Agreed, however...

The people's struggles toward and desire for such means are, as Chomsky puts it, unrealistic...translated, that means power and privledge are opposed to it. States are incredibly violent, and there's always been a lot of $ to be made from domination.