"And I looked, and beheld a pale horse, and he that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him."
- Revelation 6:8
Friday, March 25, 2011
A Storm's a-Comin'
"And I looked, and beheld a pale horse, and he that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him."
- Revelation 6:8
Thursday, March 17, 2011
"Deja vu all over again"
Libyan Rebels, 2011
Mujahideen in the Soviet-Afghan War, circa 1985
"They never learn." - Fire Marshall Bill, In Living Color, circa 1991Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Empire of the Sun
- Sleep my baby, at my breast,
- ’Tis a mother’s arms round you.
- Make yourself a snug, warm nest.
- Feel my love forever new.
- Harm will not meet you in sleep,
- Hurt will always pass you by.
- Child beloved, always you’ll keep,
- In sleep gentle, mother’s breast nigh.
- Sleep in peace tonight, sleep,
- O sleep gently, what a sight.
- A smile I see in slumber deep,
- What visions make your face bright?
- Are the angels above smiling,
- At you in your peaceful rest?
- Are you beaming back while in
- Peaceful slumber on mother’s breast?
- Do not fear the sound, it’s a breeze
- Brushing leaves against the door.
- Do not dread the murmuring seas,
- Lonely waves washing the shore.
- Sleep child mine, there’s nothing here,
- While in slumber at my breast,
- Angels smiling, have no fear,
- Holy angels guard your rest.
- Suo Gan, a Welsh lullaby
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Warriors Without Borders
On April 11, 1994, 2,500 Tutsis were slaughtered in a Catholic school, named the Ecole Technique Officielle, outside of Kagili, Rwanda, after the UN forces withdrew from the compound. The Hutu militias had been outside for days taunting the Tutsis and even hacking a few to death with machetes and axes directly in front of the UN forces, who refused to intervene because the rules of engagement given to them by their command only allowed them to fire in self-defense and not in the defense of others (especially Africans, as an exception could be made for white people if need be).
A scene repeated in the Rwandan Genocide thousands of times
This particular massacre was but one of many in those 100 days in 1994 that cost an estimated 800,000 lives. As usual, the world watched the slaughter with something bordering on indifference finding critical rhetoric instead to be the appropriate response.
This publication believes that it is fair to say that the nations of the world have been entirely useless when it comes to doing what is right. Our governments watch as villages are being pillaged in Darfur, Indigenous Peoples are being victimized in Central America, and dolphins, whales, gorillas, and other animals are being slaughtered for sport and profit. Those same governments are, of course, more than ready to dish out the violence when oil prices and the Dow Jones are at stake, however, because that is truly sacred. It is for this reason, therefore, that this publication is announcing, for the first time, an idea that I hope will manifest in a solution (albeit a temporary one and just a stepping-stone in furtherance of a nobler one) that will pick up the ball where every nation-state in modern times has dropped it.
The proposal is simple: a dedicated group of ex-military from around the world will volunteer their time and services to intervene and come to the aid of people (and animals) anywhere who are being brutalized and victimized and who are incapable of defending themselves.
This fighting force would answer to no government and never take sides in political struggles (other than to protect those caught in the crossfire). It would be funded completely by donations from concerned citizens around the world who will donate on-line via the group's website. The force's logistical support command will procure the necessary weapons, ammunition, supplies, and transportation solely using the donated funds.
The group's supporters across the world will vote on-line for where they believe the force is most needed at the moment and the Command will focus its operations in support of that directive. In many ways, the organizational structure would be very similar Doctors Without Borders' although the modus operandi would be different. Click here to read about Doctors Without Borders' History and Principles for a better idea of how this organization would work.
The rules of engagement will be straightforward: the force's members will shoot-to-kill in the defense of targeted civilians/protected animal populations. Borders, jurisdictions, and political considerations will be completely disregarded.
An admirable legacy
It is my belief that most of the rogues around the world that commit atrocities will quickly buckle when they come face-to-face with a group of organized, battle-hardened soldiers who operate with a single vision, absolute dedication, and purpose, and who execute their mission with calculating deliberation for most of those rogues are just bands of thugs - not professional soldiers. Ideally, once we establish the proper precedent in the first few missions, in most cases the opposition will discontinue their slaughter once they hear the force is on its way, if it doesn't result in the downright disappearance of that sort of thing around the world altogether in a short amount of time.
This is an opportunity to actually make a difference for millions of people and threatened populations all over the world when our governments have been too selfish and cowardly to sack up and do what needs to get done. In this new Information Age where Twitter and Facebook have been used to orchestrate revolutions that overturned established dictatorships, why can't we harness those same tools to coordinate and support direct action when it's clearly needed?
If you agree with this proposal or are willing to become a part of the effort, please become a "follower" of this blog so that we can see if we can get this thing off the ground. If it works, it may be just a small step towards a more peaceful world where all beings can live in harmony with one another. Until then, lock and load because we've got some work to do.
Signed,
JB, March 8,2011
"This is a good day to die. Follow me." - Chief Low Dog of the Oglala Souix, 1881, before the Battle of Little Bighorn
-----
Notes from July 21, 2011:
I should add that since the posting of this entry I've come to understand that this kind of proposal is not really the right solution for a number of reasons. I considered removing the post entirely but then decided against it on the grounds that it was an honest portrayal of my ideas as of March 8, 2011. The offer, however, is closed. We shall seek to ease suffering through other more powerful and long-term means.
A scene repeated in the Rwandan Genocide thousands of timesThis particular massacre was but one of many in those 100 days in 1994 that cost an estimated 800,000 lives. As usual, the world watched the slaughter with something bordering on indifference finding critical rhetoric instead to be the appropriate response.
This publication believes that it is fair to say that the nations of the world have been entirely useless when it comes to doing what is right. Our governments watch as villages are being pillaged in Darfur, Indigenous Peoples are being victimized in Central America, and dolphins, whales, gorillas, and other animals are being slaughtered for sport and profit. Those same governments are, of course, more than ready to dish out the violence when oil prices and the Dow Jones are at stake, however, because that is truly sacred. It is for this reason, therefore, that this publication is announcing, for the first time, an idea that I hope will manifest in a solution (albeit a temporary one and just a stepping-stone in furtherance of a nobler one) that will pick up the ball where every nation-state in modern times has dropped it.
The proposal is simple: a dedicated group of ex-military from around the world will volunteer their time and services to intervene and come to the aid of people (and animals) anywhere who are being brutalized and victimized and who are incapable of defending themselves.
This fighting force would answer to no government and never take sides in political struggles (other than to protect those caught in the crossfire). It would be funded completely by donations from concerned citizens around the world who will donate on-line via the group's website. The force's logistical support command will procure the necessary weapons, ammunition, supplies, and transportation solely using the donated funds.
The group's supporters across the world will vote on-line for where they believe the force is most needed at the moment and the Command will focus its operations in support of that directive. In many ways, the organizational structure would be very similar Doctors Without Borders' although the modus operandi would be different. Click here to read about Doctors Without Borders' History and Principles for a better idea of how this organization would work.
The rules of engagement will be straightforward: the force's members will shoot-to-kill in the defense of targeted civilians/protected animal populations. Borders, jurisdictions, and political considerations will be completely disregarded.
An admirable legacyIt is my belief that most of the rogues around the world that commit atrocities will quickly buckle when they come face-to-face with a group of organized, battle-hardened soldiers who operate with a single vision, absolute dedication, and purpose, and who execute their mission with calculating deliberation for most of those rogues are just bands of thugs - not professional soldiers. Ideally, once we establish the proper precedent in the first few missions, in most cases the opposition will discontinue their slaughter once they hear the force is on its way, if it doesn't result in the downright disappearance of that sort of thing around the world altogether in a short amount of time.
This is an opportunity to actually make a difference for millions of people and threatened populations all over the world when our governments have been too selfish and cowardly to sack up and do what needs to get done. In this new Information Age where Twitter and Facebook have been used to orchestrate revolutions that overturned established dictatorships, why can't we harness those same tools to coordinate and support direct action when it's clearly needed?
If you agree with this proposal or are willing to become a part of the effort, please become a "follower" of this blog so that we can see if we can get this thing off the ground. If it works, it may be just a small step towards a more peaceful world where all beings can live in harmony with one another. Until then, lock and load because we've got some work to do.
Signed,
JB, March 8,2011
"This is a good day to die. Follow me." - Chief Low Dog of the Oglala Souix, 1881, before the Battle of Little Bighorn
-----
Notes from July 21, 2011:
I should add that since the posting of this entry I've come to understand that this kind of proposal is not really the right solution for a number of reasons. I considered removing the post entirely but then decided against it on the grounds that it was an honest portrayal of my ideas as of March 8, 2011. The offer, however, is closed. We shall seek to ease suffering through other more powerful and long-term means.
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