Peacefare

The U.S. spends a lot of money on it's military. Last year we spent roughly the same amount of money on our military as the rest of the world combined (466 billion vs. 500 billion). Don't forget that if we had spent no money (except wages, fuel and repairs) we would still be the most advanced and world encompassing military in the world. Many people want to take some of that money and put it into other programs: schools, social security, etc. I think that we need to at least try a WWJD program. I am no big follower of Jesus, but most of the people in the armed forces are. They are willing to fight and kill and sacrifice their lives for the good of others. I respect and admire that, but I wonder how that can be ok with them on a religious level. If you believe in heave and a higher justice, than I would imagine that you would be happy to turn the other cheek to those who attack you: I mean, you are going to go to heaven anyway, and that would be for eternity not just the few years we live here on earth...

I digress. Couldn't some of that money be used to just overwhelm nations with food and infrastructure improvements? I am not saying you wouldn't need soldiers to protect those assets. Many food programs were manipulated by warlords in Africa and southeast Asia. Don't just drop the food in and leave. Don't try to do it all at once. Pick a country with a coast that needs help and will, if unaided, eventually require military attention (eg. Somalia/Ethiopia; 15 years ago). Start with a beachhead and work outwards. I feel like it would be hard for any nation to get rid of american soldiers who have a well prepared base. Then feed the people. Expand slowly outwards. I am not saying do it as pacifists. Bring all the guns and whatever (I am not a soldier). Shoot people that shoot you. But start by feeding and helping. No ultimatums. No favorites. That has got to be less expensive. Sally Struthers can feed people for the cost of a cup of coffee. It isn't even Starbuck's coffee. We could cut spending by over 75% and still be the highest priced army in the world.

I see that our military has more responsibilities than any other on earth, and is also held to a higher standard (except in courts, which is a whole other rant). They need a lot of money. Fine, but the best way to save on the newest version of fighter jet is not having to build it because the people you were going to survey or kill are all at their homes EATING. Many wars are Religious and/or cultural, but many are just about water or space or food or money. Those could be stopped. It is time for America to stop responding to violence with violence. It is time to put our cheek where our mouth is.

On a side note. I am reading a book of great speches, and there is a guy who is talking about the war in Ireland at the turn of the century. He said something that I found really moving. He said that graves are war's fuel.