Some thoughts on "patriotism" written on July 4

The Anti-Empire Report

Most important thought: I’m sick and tired of this thing called “patriotism”.

by William Blum  | July 5th, 2010  | www.killinghope.org

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At the end of World War II, the United States gave moral lectures to their German prisoners and to the German people on the inadmissibility of pleading that their participation in the holocaust was in obedience to their legitimate government. To prove to them how legally and morally inadmissable this defense was, the World War II allies hanged the leading examples of such patriotic loyalty.

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Another thing Americans have to be thankful for on July 4

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Separation of oil and state?

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Moreover, if it could have been prevented if BP had not been so negligent and reckless to save money, can we count on all oil companies in the future to never put profits before safety? I think not. And if an accident happens can we count on the company being able to rectify the damage quickly and efficiently? Apparently not.

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Accordingly, as president, I would take the admittedly controversial step of abolishing the United States military. The total savings, including the mammoth reduction in oil consumption, would be more than a trillion dollars a year.

Class assignment:

  1. Try and think of the things that would improve the quality of life in American society, things that money could bring about, that would not be covered by a trillion dollars.
  2. If you believe that having no military would open the United States to foreign invasion, state:
    1. how many soldiers they would need to occupy a nation of more than 300 million people.
  3. List the dozen wars the United States has been involved in since the 1980s and specify which of them you are glad and proud of.
  4. On October 28, 2002, five men were murdered by a mob in India because they had killed a (sacred) cow. 20 On the very same day the United States was actively engaged in preparing to invade Iraq and kill thousands of people for control of their oil. Discuss which society was more insane.

Second suggestion to reduce oil usage: Public transportation would be nationalized so as to reduce prices to levels very easily affordable for virtually the entire population, resulting in a huge reduction of private automobile and gasoline usage. This public transportation system would not be required to show a profit. Like the military now.

The Cold War is over.   Long live the Cold War.

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Choosing a warlord

Besides being TGP’s chosen Special Editor for US Foreign Policy, William Blum is the author of:

  • Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions Since World War 2
  • Rogue State: A Guide to the World’s Only Superpower
  • West-Bloc Dissident: A Cold War Memoir
  • Freeing the World to Death: Essays on the American Empire

Notes

  1. Sunday Telegraph (London), July 18, 1999 ↩
  2. The Independent (London), November 22, 1995 ↩
  3. Far Eastern Economic Review (Hong Kong), October 30, 1997, article by Nate Thayer, pages 15 and 20 ↩
  4. Washington Post, May 11, 2007, p.14 ↩
  5. Z Magazine, May 2006, interview by David Barsamian ↩
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  7. New York Times, December 25, 1992 ↩
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  13. Washington Post, July 1, 2010 ↩
  14. Washington Post, June 17, 2010 ↩
  15. McClatchy-Tribune News Service, June 20, 2010 ↩
  16. Washington Post, May 27, 2010 ↩
  17. Wall Street Journal, June 15, 2010 ↩
  18. Washington Post, June 18, 2010 ↩
  19. Tom Dispatch, June 14, 2007 ↩
  20. Washington Post, October 29, 2002, p.18 ↩
  21. Washington Post, Oct. 28, 2009, p.H4 ↩
  22. New York Times, February 3, 1992, p.8 ↩

Portions of the books can be read, and signed copies purchased, at www.killinghope.org

Previous Anti-Empire Reports can be read at this website.