3.13.2008

Fighting For What You Believe In

After reading a movie review on piglipstick's blog on Sir! No Sir!, I decided to rent it. I was just a wee little toddler during the first years of the Vietnam War. My parents were supporters of Nixon. As I grew older, I don't recall any discussion at home about this period in history. In school, the subject was touched on briefly and (likely) was tarnished propaganda in many ways. As such, over the years I've wanted to learn more. I've learned some things on my own, but I wanted to know more about the Resistance movement, in particular from the soldiers and vets themselves.

This movie/documentary did not disappoint me. It's a very very moving piece. It makes you cheer and cry at the same time. I had no clue as to the number of underground newspapers, created and written by the soldiers themselves, at times on military bases. I was unaware as to the number of prison sentences given to those brave men and women who said "I will not participate in this illegal war."

It got me to thinking about present time. Where is this resistance today from our military personnel? God knows thousands of them have written to Michael Moore alone, not only questioning the reasons why they were sent to Iraq, thousands have said they want out. They don't want to return. So many coming back fucked up emotionally, mentally and physically. And yet, I ask, where is that organized resistance movement this time around?

I can only think that soldier's lives are in much more danger today than they were during the 1960's and 70's. Flee to Canada? Forget it. The corruption is deeper, stronger, more widespread. Human life has become a commodity in its truest form. Freedom marchers risk imprisonment, bodily harm and death at a far greater scope today than at any time in our known history. Need I use the word "taser", too?

Also missing is the culture and music of the time. Where is the music calling for peace and love? (I have a TON if any singers and bands are in need of material!) Today we have a glut of angry, violent lyrics that don't come to some conclusion of peace or healing. Get even now. That brain-damaging thumping bass seems to have left too many of this younger generation more interested in loud noise than they do in any sort of purpose. Pleasure now is the theme of the day. Meaning seems to be lost and with it, justice. Fairness. Truth. Hooked on video games, cell phones and caffeine, our younger generation has been damaged by unhealthy living, parents who are over-worked and underpaid, not to mention the growing disease that is today's public school educational environment. Corporate Culture. Buy now pay later. Mass consumerism. Pleasure now, consequences later. Slave wages, slave labor. Lamestream media and its slew of people disguised as journalists.

All have contributed to the sense of apathy and lack of awareness.

Such a massive puzzle of dysfunction and corruption. Sometimes thinking about changing just one piece simply doesn't seem nearly enough.

"The times, they are a'changin'..." sang Dylan back when. I wonder what that song means to him today.

2 comments:

nolocontendere said...

Some comparisons between Vietnam and Iraq always crop up but aside from the overall template for occupation, repression and death the experience for soldiers is much different and as you mention, much worse. I think the scumbags learned a lot from Nam and applied it all today. Grunts are in far more danger from DU dust and chemicals, their opportunities to organize are much more limited and the fascists have far less regard for their physical, mental and moral states. Secrecy reigns with the casualty lists criminally wrong, and a conscious effort is scientifically applied to turn them all into unfeeling psycho thugs. Any effort on their part to break free from all this is viciously destroyed. The soldiers today have obstacles the Nam vets never dreamed about.

Nina said...

I completely agree. After Vietnam, TPTB knew they had to make some changes to avoid future soldier resistance. I'm confident mind programming tactics are applied and it wouldn't surprise me if food is laced with substances meant to encourage aggressive behavior and/or automatic compliance. And this time around we have redeployments of 3, 4 times. It's just so wrong and awful on every level imaginable. We can only hope young people will resist recruitment and see this entire scheme for what it really is.