Beyond Conflict
Monday, November 20, 2023
War Between Red and Blue
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Expendable
According to the rules of war, children are expendable in the achievement of an important military objective. What more important objective is there than protecting the future generation. If we achieve our goals while ignoring the young all that remains is a desolate world without hope.
Is there a way to wage war without killing the innocent? I do not know, that is for the generals to determine. Either way, is the world worth saving if children are expendable?
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Them and Us
In the world of barriers there are always them and us. In the land of the U.S. southern border there are the cartels and the Americans. The cartels bring drugs they promise will make us happy, have a good time, party on. The innocent citizens think there is a trouble-free pill that can make life fun and then it's back to work. The predators are hunted as ruthless criminals only in it for the money. The prey are just living their lives looking for ways to make life bearable.
Illicit drugs make up a multi-billion dollar economy. The market place is the street and the purveyors are the U.S. residents acting as retail agents busting the bags of whole-sale chemicals into easily consumable products that can be sold at a good markup. The consumers are young kids, career professionals, just about anyone interested in a good time.
In a market economy the wheels are driven by supply and demand. Without demand there is no need of supply. If no one bought a packet of drugs then no one would become addicted, no one would die of an overdose and no one would be standing on the street corner hawking their wares. Further back down the line, mules would not be risking incarceration or death to transport bulk drugs across borders. Cartel members would not be fighting for control of the drug flow or murdering the innocent residents of source countries.
A drug induced high is the ultimate goal of the co-dependency between users and dealers. It is the release from pain, frustration, depression, anger, grief, boredom, empty existence that we as people are always seeking. Let's face it, life can be a real drag once in a while. Where can you go, what can you do to fill the void. Is there a book, a blog, a healer with all the answers? Everyone is looking for a path. The first easy path is a pill, a pipe, a needle. Not too expensive at first. Good times are had all around. What's the problem? It's all harmless fun.
With the first swallow, toke, fix, someone dies on the other side of the country or is sucked into the magical river of gold and violence flowing from the pockets of the seekers. Some of us have difficulties in childhood causing trauma, misconceptions, unrealistic expectations, or an inability to fit it. Over time these can grow into intractable life struggles. Very often the help needed to find our way through these problems can be unavailable, unaffordable, or not provided by those who are normally responsible for giving it.
The one thing that is the most easy to find and that offers some relief from our predicaments is the black market drug trade. All you need is some cash.What would happen if the assistance we are looking for and truly need was as close as the neighborhood drug store, with easy to read signs, directions and options. One size does not fit all, but usually there is a solution for almost everyone. The path is not easy, but if it is consistently and responsibly presented through counseling or commonly agreed upon information portals then our recovery can begin.
One day soon, the bricks of heroin, bales of weed. sacks of fentanyl piling up on the docks awaiting transport to distribution centers will remain unprocessed and be forgotten. The dealers and traffickers will wait in the usual places for the cash to roll it and, as if over night, those hangouts will become deserted and converted into health and well-being centers.
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
What if they threw a war and no one came?
There is a long, deep trench and many people are lined up facing it. There are many soldiers around the trench, making sure that the unarmed are under control. The soldiers intend to shoot the men and women and dump them in the ditch. What would happen if one brave soul among those threatened was to turn to face their murderers? Would it change anything? Would one soldier see the humanity in the eyes of the resistor? Would others in line turn to resist the cruelty of men and testify to the common understanding of our shared suffering in the world? How many innocents would die anyway? Would any hearts be changed by our love of peace?
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Falling
Friday, October 27, 2017
Protect and Serve
In Madison, until recently, cops were told "the purpose of deadly force is to stop the threat." This seems to be a clear-cut directive that would entail little hesitation when time is of the essence. Now suddenly, cops must first consider that their duty is to ensure the "protection and preservation of all human life", victims and perpetrators alike (New Police Procedures). This new policy takes into account not just the appearance of imminent violence, but the circumstances in which it occurs and the state of mind of the individuals involved. And still a decision needs to be made on the fly as a situation unfolds. The point is, that cops have other options, including deescalation and non-lethal force.
Monday, October 23, 2017
Grasping at straws
There might be one bright note that could come from this free for all, and that is the possibility that those remaining moderates of either persuasion might feel more inclined to break ranks, meet as equals, and forge a compromise on legislation that would both help people and not crush the economy. It is a slim hope, but one I grasp at.