Know our warmongers and America will change

Larry Kummer, Editor

8 years ago

Summary: A vast pro-war establishment powers the militarization of US foreign policy. Often funded by government contractors, a horde of advocacy groups, think tanks, and academics explain that the answer to most challenges is a large military – and war. They are warmongers, in the literal sense of those who start wars for personal profit.

“By making it clear in the most irreverent ways possible that you are happy to see McCain go, you are giving others permission to step outside of the lines they’re being herded into, and you are helping to create a world where murderous warmongers are marginalized instead of celebrated.”

— Caitlin Johnstone in “Do NOT Let Them Make A Saint Of This Asshole.“

Warmongers are not, in western tradition, warriors. The first known use of the word is in Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene (1758). For Spenser, a warmonger is the opposite of a true knight. Following this passage are examples of modern warmongering. It’s time to call these people out for what they are. Until that day they will continue to have a baleful effect on America, twisting us from our past — disrupting the world, a path that will not end well for us.

The Faerie Queene is a complex and subtle work, rich in lessons for us. It discusses the virtues of holiness, temperance, chastity, justice, and courtesy — all lost to us, making us smaller. It even has a warrior woman, who cross-dresses as a knight. Look beyond the medieval settings. They are people, just like us but with different strengths and weaknesses.

The characters: Malbecco is the husband of Hellenore. Braggadocchio is a knight; Paridell is a false knight.

That bold he {Malbecco} said; O most redoubled Peer,
Vouchsafe with mild Regard a Wretch’s Case to hear.

Then sighing sore, It is not long, said he,
Since I enjoy’d the gentlest Dame alive;
Of whom a Knight {Paridell}, no Knight at all perdy {truly},
But shame of all that do for Honour strive,
By treacherous Deceit did me deprive:
Thru open Outrage he her bore away,
And with foul Force unto his Will did drive;
Which all good Knights, that Arms do bear this day,
Are bound for to revenge, and punish if they may.

And you most noble Lord that can and dare
Redress the Wrong of miserable Wight,
Cannot employ your most victorious Spear
In better Quarrel, than Defence of Right,
And for a Lady, against a faithless Knight:
So shall your Glory be advanced much,
And all fair Ladies magnify your Might,
And eke my self (albe I simple such)
Your worthy Pain shall well reward with Guerdon {reward} rich.

With that, out of his Bouget {bucket} forth he drew
Great store of Treasure, there-with him to tempt;
But he {Braggadocchio} on it look’d scornfully askew,
As much disdaining to be so misdempt {misjudged},
Or a War-monger to be basely nempt {named}:
And said, Thy Offers base I greatly loath,
And eke thy Words uncourteous and unkempt;
I tread in Dust thee and thy Money both,
That, were it not for shame: So turned from him wroth.

Unlike Braggadocchio, our warmongers are paid to involve America in foreign wars. It is a great business. One of the most influential in America today.