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WAR SALESMEN

Seems the web these days is filled with macho blogs by war salesmen, desktop warriors who love to talk as though their words were ready weapons, and act all sorts of just and righteous and knowing and all-seeing and caring about the pain and freedom and rights of those they would invade and save with the wars they crave, wars that will kill and maim and starve more of those very folk in the process, though this does not figure much in the salesmen's calculations, for what they love above all (excepting themselves as virtual heroes) is war: not to fight it, but to talk about it endlessly. And if war does come, it will not be the masters of war or these posturing apologists who rush out and sign up to fight on the front lines and stare death in the face, it will not be they who pay with their blood for any victory or defeat; they themselves do not go to war, they send someone else: not their sons but the other ones, the sons of the quiet folk, who do not shout and call for death, the ones who live just across the street from us all and mow their lawns and go each day to school and the shop, and do not swagger for the right to bear arms; it is they who will march into death, take the brunt and sometimes survive, then later never boast about it, or even want to talk about it, and never call for more (they call rather for an end to all war). But they will fight a war if it comes, for duty is strong in them, not the craving for power. You quiet folks out there, don't listen to the hollow men who fill themselves and your ears with talk of war. Listen to those who have fought because it was their duty, not because they loved it. They will tell you the truth.