posted March 18, 2002 at 10:16 a.m. MDT
Subject: A paroxism of greed
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 9:59:39
From: "Bernard D. Tremblay (Ben)"
Organization: MetaGnosis
To: Talk Peace < talkpeace AT yahoogroups.com>
The first thing I heard on the radio this morning is the news that the
newly announced American military policy includes not only the threat of
pre-emptive nuclear strikes against "rogue state", but it also includes
Russia in the list of targetted nations. (This is in keeping with the
Pentagon's doctine of "full-spectrum dominance", part of which involves
the militarization of space.)
The US is spending US$100 million per day to maintain its present
military stock, and will be dedicating part of its recently increased
US$400 billion yearly budget for military spending for new weapons;
apparently it has turned its back to non-proliferation as well as to
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
I was touched by the voice of our former Ambassador to the UN for
disarmament as he once again sent out a clarion call against the scourge
of nuclear arms, and also by the cold rationalism of the defense analyst
who patronized him with agreement that disarmament was a worthy aim and
then chided him, saying we had to be practical, that the only way we
could have an influence was if we were involved.
What we are witnessing is a paroxism of greed: if citizens do not
recognize that this is a signal moment for the insanely wealthy to grab
for power, the elite and their think-tank advisors do.
The last thing I wrote yesterday evening was on the theme of "coccoon"
and how the bourgeois dream of the nuclear family with its own private
castle stocked with everything needed for pleasure and entertainment
mimics the sadly mistaken notion that we can each of us be
self-sufficient and complete in splendid isoaltion from others. That
dream of "coccoon" (which so many cultures would find abhorent, if not
simply pathological) is the root that feeds consummer capitalism: in my
drive for self-sufficiency, I will indulge the tyranical boss, ignore
the ignorant co-worker, work around the dictatorial supervisor, find my
comfort with convenient food and convenient music and convenient
transportation, and on and on, never taking arms against outrageous
fortune, always striving to avoid the slightest edge of responsibility.
The power elite recognize that their lust for full spectrum global
dominance cooresponds with the narrowly materialistic aims of those who
believe that narrow self-interest is the "practical" route to personal
satisfaction. Isolated and ham-strung by petty appetites, we will be
ruled by those who have similarly shallow views of human dignity.
I heard a chickadee sing in my backyard just now. The earth, in its
unboundedly practical optimism, is moving into another spring.
Ben Tremblay
see
Pentagon Bootprints Around the Globe
