Can we break the cycle?

[Darren Dirt]

A very different perspective on the 1945 Atomic Bombing of Japan

http://www.brainsturbator.com/articles/the_greatest_achievement_of_organized_science/

...we are all essentially hostages to our governments, our leaders.

This is not about how "Science" leads to industrialized genocide and nuclear weapons -- although it does. This is about a specific kind of problem. Science in the service of the state, the science of power and force. Our leaders, both corporate and political, are primarily interested in science as a weapon. A weapon against us.

I don't expect people to give me The Answers anymore, and hopefully by 2025 I will no longer expect that of myself, either. My problem with leaders as a species, with the alpha males of every government on Earth, is that they always have The Answers.

Will this century be different? World Peace should be easy. The vast majority of human beings have never had anything to do with any wars. History tells us conflicts are grand theater, but yet there are so few actors involved -- most of us exist only as victims, extras with exploding blood bags whose names never make the credits. I would like to see that change within my lifetime. I would like to suggest that it @%&#ing has to.

related:
http://www.brainsturbator.com/articles/10_ways_you_can_fight_fascism_around_the_world/ ,
http://www.brainsturbator.com/articles/despotism_a_most_educational_short_film/ "For one thing...avoid the comfortable idea that the mere form of government can, of itself, safeguard a nation against despotism ...  defending personal liberty is a personal obligation, and passing that obligation on to your government is the same as giving up your freedom"

http://www.brainsturbator.com/articles/your_fear_is_all_they_have/ <-- seriously deep thoughts there

[Mr. Analog]

Err, not sure what they're trying to say here because it paints over large chunks of history.

Japan was in the process of surrendering, the powers that be wanted to bring a decisive end to WWII to all current (and potentially future) combatants and decided that they should use this new superweapon to put the fear into any remaining powers.

Of course this decision to drop the bombs became a big time scandal in 1947 (now largely forgotten, I highly recommend reading General MacArthur's autobiography).

I will also say this, if you want to talk atrocities read about the firebombing campaign WAY more devastating than mere nuclear bombs (in terms of loss of life AND destruction of infrastructure).

But of course the talk of weapons is sort of a McGuffin isn't it, the real question is behind those few humans who made the decisions.

The stark reality is that human beings are highly successful when they form groups, and like many social animals we define power structures, generally these power structures are beneficial but sometimes not. The power structures constantly evolve, usually violently, but thanks to the Parliamentary system we can change our power structure without spilling blood. That's not foolproof either, nothing is, but so far it's the system that the most successful groups (nations) employ.

So, is life perfect in this 21st century? Nope, has it ever been perfect? Nope. Might it change for better or worse? You bet your ass it will!

[Darren Dirt]

An individual might commit homicide, usually without premeditation. A real sicko might recommit, i.e. serial killer.

But it takes an organized "state" to have thousands of young kids who have never really lived go into the lands and homes of strangers who they have no personal issue with, and kill them torture them or ruin their lives.


The article I originally linked to was focusing on the fact that both the US *and Japanese* governments were "okay" with tens of thousands of "civilians" being murdered in order to make some kind of "point".

Unless you are Adrian Veidt, it's pretty tough for an individual to even choose to do that, let alone actualy do it.

[Mr. Analog]

People have this funny idea about war, don't know where it came from really, that it only affects willing combatants.

Justification for war, which again is what I think you're getting at, is never easy. Well, it shouldn't be, but then again it's easy to gamble with other peoples lives isn't it? Heck if the average Joe cared about the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every year no one would drive a car or deep fry anything, but it's hard to think on that scale, so they don't.

Regardless, war is certainly not the same thing as murder, murder is much more simplistic and easy to understand. War is complex, and certainly leaves a lot of people with things to answer for, it not to the world then to themselves.

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds."
~J. Robert Oppenheimer