PERHAPS

 

PERHAPS

    I should show some discipline and stop the passive aggressive nature of my rage. People have a hard time dealing with me because, just because, I'm smiling doesn't mean I'm not angry. Also just because I'm not saying anything (not a frequent occasion) doesn't mean I don't care. Be careful when I'm smiling and you decide to get in my face because in reality I'm ten seconds from murder and your perceived advantage is about to disappear.

    Usually when I get to that stage to prevent a physical  escalation I will change the subject or attempt to stage a tactical withdrawal. When I do this, do not be fooled, you have not won because I have decided not to hit you up along side the head. You have no idea how close you came  to having your lights turned off permanently. Be very careful if I lower my voice and talk through my teeth, because a shout and three in the eye, a head butt, a knee in the groin and when you are on the ground I'll step on your hands and play football with your head, is not far away.

    Of course most of our daily disagreements don't escalate to these levels but something quite trivial can be a trigger a potentially violent response. To be civilized is to channel our aggression away from violence otherwise no form of civilization is possible. There is however a thread of violence in all of us particularly the male. Our sports glorify it and our tales of conflict and war are almost inoculated into us from our babyhood. The heroism of our soldiers is glorified even in unjust wars of conquest and robbery. The elite will always tell us that our soldiers are fighting and dying for our freedoms at the same time as they are restricting our own freedoms in the name of war.

    The reality is that there are no "good" wars, in fact if any good comes from wars its an unintended consequence. Last years enemy is this year ally, like a school yard game of choose up sides and fight. Countries do not have friends they have interests. The perception of good and evil is what our leaders tell us is good and evil even if the evidence doesn't support it. Show me a man who is supposedly fighting for God and country and I'll show you a man who  inadvertently is bent on murder and robbery even if he doesn't know it or get to share in the loot.

    The old soldiers saw that "I joined the Army for rape and plunder but didn't realize it was me who was going to be raped and plundered."

    Will the human animal ever surrender to the blandishments  of Peace? I can only answer, perhaps.

Ciao, JWL