Article: War Culture

It occured to me while reading the news. We have all been assimulated into the war culture. The war culture is the game we're playing. A game given to us by those who make up the games. This is important because we never question the game or where it comes from, we just take sides, assume our roles and play. Everybody plays! Why do we play? I'll skip all the religious, political, altrusistic rationals and just sum it up with activity and of course the ultimate game score marker, money. Money. The carrot on the stick that is always in every game we "get" to play.

Zeit-Geist. The prevailing "spirit" of the times we live in. 9/11 was the starter gun of this new age. Yes, and I remember the media pronouncements telling the world that things have changed. I now realize that what I was hearing were the game masters telling us that players we're to begin new strategys. That new avenues have opened up in which to play and of course, win or lose.The problem is people tend to lose in a game they don't know they're playing. And this game awareness can be anywhere from total ignorance to master game player. To of course the master game maker. Who we leave out of this particular consideration as often game players disavow the existence of the game makers.

So where's the game at now. We have the the two Wars. Terror and Iraq. Only two? Hardly. We also have the war of pro war and anti war folks in the media. Writers, pundits, protestors, police, Various celebrities. We have the political divides with the various charades we're now watching jocky for position in Congress. And last but certainly not least, we have the soldiers on the ground. Soldiers for both sides mind you shooting at each other and playing a game for "keeps". Like we said as children when the winner got to keep the marbles.

All kinds of games being played in the War Culture. I doubt we're the first generation shackled into these game conditions. And we won't be the last unless people someday learn that they can create their own games and not just play the games set up for them. But that is probably a millenium away if ever. But still, can you imagine if everybody just stopped playing this particular War Culture game?

Soldiers in the field playing a game of life and death for keepsies. Their goal is to literally survive and hopefully win something of true value. Their game motivators are duty, patriotism, valor and some for glory etc. We got the Media playing their game of ratings and sponsors. Writers writing to get read I suppose. And Paid? Fame? Book deals? Celebrity? Writers write and can be found on both sides in the War Culture. Pro and Anti War. But I suppose the ultimate game reward is to make a difference. Euphemism for score big? So Soldiers fight and writers write and the rest of us just do along in the dance. Never considering who might be calling the tune. That's our self assumed roles.

The game gets a little more complicated when you start talking Politicians, Corporate interests and International economic-political entitys. Like the Congress debating exactly how they will debate the war. Debating over just how nonbinding a nonbinding resolution about the war will be. I ask you, what kind of game is this? Well I'll tell you. You see there's not a single congressional district that is not benefitting directly from the war spending. In the congressman's world there are economic consequences for abrubtly ending these wars. It's not just the high profile special interests like Halliburton and Bechtel etc. It's the towns around the military bases and various industry that will be impacted when the war money drys up. Why even the scrap business in my town is flourishing because of this war. 5 years ago you couldn't give away scrap steel. Now the parking lots are full every morning outside the auto salvage yards. So congress has to answer to a lot more than just the anti war movement. It's not so easy. So am I saying that economics large and small is equal to the loss of life? What I'm saying is hypocrisy is easier seen in others than in ourselves. I'm not sure there even is such a thing as objective honesty. So instead find a forum and make your case. Find and Play your game. Because this war culture is our game and you're either playing or being played. Winning or losing. Speaking of winning or losing what going on with this surge Tactically? I mean besides at home where the expanding military will do wonders for those in local economys positioned to take advantage. I mean overthere.

I mean it is clear on the ground that we're allowing Maliki to cover or allow to flee the Sadr elements of the Shia Militia that are loyal to Maliki. While pursuing violently the more Sunni militia elements. And this while saying we're going after all militias. All the while accusing Iran of meddling and threatening retributions and yet at the same time clearly strengthening the Shia majoritys in Iraq that are close to Iran. The only thing that makes sense in this seeming contradiction is the price of oil. That's right. Both Iran's and USA's oil profits benefit from this high profile disagreement and saber rattling. The more they ratchet up the tension the more they ratchet up the fear factor on the Oil "open" markets and up go the profits. Guess who is losing this game they may not know they're playing? Got a mirror?

Ah, and I didn't even mention Israel. And I won't. While Israel has it's problems and gets blamed for a lot of things, some just and some not so just, to me it seems that all sides in the Israeli-Palistinian conflict are playing a losing game. But this American-Iraqi war isn't about Israel as much as it is about Multinationals and national politics with local roots right here at home.

So, what game shall we play today? How's this war culture working out for you? Winning? Losing? Probably a little of both for most. Unless you've achieved total detachment. Which I suppose is like a no game position. But Maybe your detachment is a power position from which you calculate your interest and strategy. Ultimately all culture and game conditions are an opportunity. An opportunity to find, or better yet, create yourself. Take it. That is until humanity learns to create their own games and leave the game makers behind. With no game!