Memorial Day

If I haven't run them all off yet, which I know at least one will never leave me, I will probably lose even more anarchist readers with my post today.

It is unfortunate since I think of anarchists as something akin to a moral compass, as I believe in a world where the government interference in personal freedoms is minimized but that human cooperation is maximized.

One anarchist friend wrote that we should see anarchism as something analogous to the Limit in calculus, something we can always get closer too, but perhaps never achieve.

But I do think that for anything resembling an anarchist world which captures the utopian vision of Kropotkin, Goldman, and others would require a mastery of human nature which we are no where near achieving.

We have to learn how to ignore our evolutionary impulses to compete, overwhelm our enemy, and be as rich in resources as possible, to harness the need for a better system of ethics without enforcement.

I love the noble anarchists, but must beg their forgiveness as my wife and I actually indulge in a celebration of Memorial Day.

Kalisa's grandfather Harold Myers fought in world war two, including a fight for the terrifying uphill holding of the Nazi gun Anzio Annie, which was an uphill battle in which Americans led a Spartan charge uphill, fearlessly and took the gun out of sheer frustration.

This battle, for me is akin to a modern day legend. At least one film has been made of it.

My own hero, philosopher Paul Kurtz, is also a WWII veteran.

Dr. Moller, one of my beloved professors, discussed how the GI Bill gave so many opportunities to the scientists he has worked with.

Since the start of the Iraq war, I have come a long distance in my thoughts on the military.

At first I hated it, and saw no need for it. I just felt that the military was nothing but a toy for the Corporate world to expand its bottom line. I felt that the soldiers were just naive victims of this dark world, who needed to be saved from their ignorance.

I have now come to a position where my prostate condition, and my wife, are the only thing keeping me out of the military.

I believe that to even join the military, especially at war time, takes a certain amount of courage. I believe that the military secures the lifestyle that we have because without one, we would face hostility.

Much like I do not believe that human nature allows for pure cooperation without government, I also do not believe that human nature allows for a super power to exist undefended.

I do believe that it was a mistake to go to Iraq, I believe that we went there under false pretenses, and I believe that what we have done is unleash a culture war between the Shia theocracy of Iran and the Sunni theocracy of Saudi Arabia, and we have created a battle field for these two disgusting powers right out of the dark ages, where the death toll can be blamed on the U.S.

I also think all is not lost in Iraq. This is where I depart from most of my liberal comrades. I believe that good military management with strong support from courageous NGOs could help a real democracy develop there.

But this is not about that.

This is about our military.

I am writing this to thank you.

You are brave heroes. I admire you and honor you. My wars with pens are bought by your wars with swords.

Happy Memorial Day!