Why does America always have an "enemy?"

[Robert_Sock]

It’s as if we’re always one small step from happiness. Take for example the British, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union and now ISIS and other radical Muslims. Excuse me, but I’m a bit suspicious. Conflicts sets a nation to be ill at ease, and results in motivation that has been lifting us out of “depression.” War carries along with it a boom that has elevated us, and the world at large. Anybody ever think about the psychology of war? Do wars have a hidden purpose? Think again where our world would be without them.

 

[Havard]

It’s as if we’re always one small step from happiness. Take for example the British, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union and now ISIS and other radical Muslims. Excuse me, but I’m a bit suspicious. Conflicts sets a nation to be ill at ease, and results in motivation that has been lifting us out of “depression.” War carries along with it a boom that has elevated us, and the world at large. Anybody ever think about the psychology of war? Do wars have a hidden purpose? Think again where our world would be without them.

IMO, you’re expressing a very American-centric point of view, Robert. I don’t think the Iraqis or Syrians raped and massacred by ISIS were wondering “why have I been caught up in an American conflict.” Or the French or Poles in WWII. Or most of Eastern Europe in the Cold War. We have, at times, initiated or exacerbated conflicts, but it’d be very inaccurate to suggest that all of the conflicts you mention began as our conflicts.

 

[Robert_Sock]

IMO, you’re expressing a very American-centric point of view, Robert. I don’t think the Iraqis or Syrians raped and massacred by ISIS were wondering “why have I been caught up in an American conflict.” Or the French or Poles in WWII. Or most of Eastern Europe in the Cold War. We have, at times, initiated or exacerbated conflicts, but it’d be very inaccurate to suggest that all of the conflicts you mention began as our conflicts.

The mass media paints its own picture of world conflicts, and most all of us become “educated” by it. How do you learn what is really real? Surely not through the mass media.

 

[meltzerboy]

It’s as if we’re always one small step from happiness. Take for example the British, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union and now ISIS and other radical Muslims. Excuse me, but I’m a bit suspicious. Conflicts sets a nation to be ill at ease, and results in motivation that has been lifting us out of “depression.” War carries along with it a boom that has elevated us, and the world at large. Anybody ever think about the psychology of war? Do wars have a hidden purpose? Think again where our world would be without them.

Don’t you remember GWB’s answer to that question, in his own inimitable manner: “They hate us for our freedom.”

The black-and-white mindset of “us” against “them” and “good” against “evil” is often very psychologically reassuring, especially when “G-d is on our side.”

Note to estesbob: Bush in post #4.

 

[GEddie]

IMO, you’re expressing a very American-centric point of view, Robert. I don’t think the Iraqis or Syrians raped and massacred by ISIS were wondering “why have I been caught up in an American conflict.” Or the French or Poles in WWII. Or most of Eastern Europe in the Cold War. We have, at times, initiated or exacerbated conflicts, but it’d be very inaccurate to suggest that all of the conflicts you mention began as our conflicts.

I don’t think RS is claiming that all warfare is initiated by or directed from America.

But he lives in LA, so he does see things as an American.

To answer your question, RS: Have you read 1984? War is a great means to keep everybody under control.

ICXC NIKA

 

[zamyrabyrd]

Don’t you remember GWB’s answer to that question, in his own inimitable manner: “They hate us for our freedom.”

The black-and-white mindset of “us” against “them” and “good” against “evil” is often very psychologically reassuring, especially when “G-d is on our side.”

Note to estesbob: Bush in post #4.

Oh boy the Bushes, 4 generations of war profiteering! This thread is not the place for their sordid history. After reading about them, I pretty much gave up about politics in general. You have to be a war monger if you are conservative and a libertine if on the left, no middle ground for true values.
The US meddling in the Middle East is the CAUSE of the rats coming out of the woodwork. Saddam may have been a tyrant, the same with Gaddafi, but they were holding things together. Freedom to die, right, about 100,000! WMD’s, oh sure! Who brought in lethal spent uranium, poisoning large swaths of the country of Iraq enough to last for another million or so years.
I gave up. The ONLY thing important to me is God. “Place not your trust in men.” For sure not politicians with moneyed interests like Halliburton. Don’t get me started…

 

[zamyrabyrd]

To answer your question, RS: Have you read 1984? War is a great means to keep everybody under control.

ICXC NIKA

I read 1984 in 1968, also “Brave New World” by Huxley. We are careening down a slippery slope to a global crisis that will entail a severe reaction of social engineering as a means of control.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

It’s as if we’re always one small step from happiness. Take for example the British, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union and now ISIS and other radical Muslims. Excuse me, but I’m a bit suspicious. Conflicts sets a nation to be ill at ease, and results in motivation that has been lifting us out of “depression.” War carries along with it a boom that has elevated us, and the world at large. Anybody ever think about the psychology of war? Do wars have a hidden purpose? Think again where our world would be without them.

I mean, I understand the Brits. We were colonies and wanted independence. However, yes, we entered WWII on both fronts, but Germany was trying to take over the world and were murdering Jews and others. It was a Humanitarian thing for us to help our Allies! Japan was on the other side of the world wanting to conquer countries to expand. They also, being a small island, had to import many natural resources. They also joined the Axis powers which were really playing Risk in real life. If it would have continued, they would have been at war with each other. They attacked us because they thought we were a threat, basically. It didn’t end well with them. The USSR and the USA both wanted to be the “biggest and baddest” and talked a lot of smack and participated in proxy wars. Yes, ISIS hates Americans.

Now, sure the Brits didn’t want to lose land. The Japs thought we were a threat and that we would stop them from reaching their goal. BUT the USA wasn’t innocent in the Cold War. Germany hadn’t gotten to this side of the world with their world domination. WWII wasn’t about Germany hating Americans so they killed tons of Jews and invaded countries.
Also, ISIS doesn’t just hate Americans. They hate infidels. Hello, remember Charlie Hebdo? Totally in France, not in the USofA. ISIS is also killing people IN THERE OWN COUNTRIES. Not just Americans. Hell, that Jordanian pilot was a MUSLIM. They even kill their own kind.

The world doesn’t revolve around the feelings of Americans or wanting to be mean to us Americans. BUT I do believe that we stick our noses in other peoples’ business too much and we shouldn’t be giving millions and billions of dollars to countries who burn our flag. We shouldn’t be giving any foreign aid until we settle our debts, period.

 

[zamyrabyrd]

The world doesn’t revolve around the feelings of Americans or wanting to be mean to us Americans. BUT I do believe that we stick our noses in other peoples’ business too much and we shouldn’t be giving millions and billions of dollars to countries who burn our flag. We shouldn’t be giving any foreign aid until we settle our debts, period.

George Washington warned about foreign entanglements. I agree with you.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I don’t think RS is claiming that all warfare is initiated by or directed from America.

But he lives in LA, so he does see things as an American.

To answer your question, RS: Have you read 1984? War is a great means to keep everybody under control.

ICXC NIKA

Yes to everything you said. I was thinking about George Orwell as I wrote it.

 

[Havard]

Note to estesbob: Bush in post #4.

LOL.

 

[Petaro]

I have a fairly simple view of American history. I see a young, Christian country growing in strength to its own surprise after WW1. It took its moral creed seriously and somewhat naively. Faced with the growing threat of Germany, it stayed out of WW2 until the surprise attack by Japan. Forced to fight in Europe, its strength in numbers and material support allowed it to lead the West to victory and saved many countries from tyrannical aggression. (Including my own, for which we remain eternally grateful.)
People seem to forget that Russia’s totalitarian and Godless creed was the antipathy of the American ideology and thus two great powers butted heads for fifty years, until the USSR imploded financially.
America has involved itself in wars ever since to stop Communism, first in Korea then in Vietnam. Its forays into the middle east stepped in the compost of the British carve up of the territories and initially was defending the newly created Jewish State. Oil interests seem to mark it recent debacles in Iraq. Now, after failed foreign policy and flip flops on support for Israel that has many, if not most, of its allies extremely worried; America’s foreign policy in the Middle East is looking decidedly spagetti like, with one end lost in the sinews of itself.
It has amassed the greatest military of our age based on an economy of massive debt and political lethargy where the only response is the increase of the debt ceiling.
Any intelligent person can see the imminent collapse, but the Administration is in fairy land suggesting its recent excursions into Yemen and its cowardly detente with Iran are massive victories. Such sage myopia can led to only one end.
However, all criticism aside, its involvement in war has been on the side of the angels and many of its own citizens seem to love conspiracy theory over any real attempt to change their own circumstances.

 

[Havard]

The mass media paints its own picture of world conflicts, and most all of us become “educated” by it. How do you learn what is really real? Surely not through the mass media.

You draw from a variety of sources, and consider their biases. Some journalistic publications are hawkish, some are very pacifistic. Some have particular sympathies, or axes to grind. Etc.

I don’t think RS is claiming that all warfare is initiated by or directed from America.

But he lives in LA, so he does see things as an American.

So the question is “why doesn’t America stay out of foreign conflicts?”

 

[Beryllos]

1984, Brave New World, … pretty high-minded stuff. What about Wag the Dog?

 

[coachdennis]

Individuals, groups, institutions, and countries often use the concept of “other” as part of one’s self-identity. They, he, or she are not like us and the implication is that “other” implies or equals danger and become our “enemy”.

It is very desirable for the military industrial complex to ensure that our government have an enemy so we can justify spending.

It is very desirable for certain groups to be demonized by both political parties for fundraising.

I’m from Boston. We created the concept of sport rivalries!

It’s all very pragmatic and example of manipulation.

How, does that mean there are no people in the world who hate America. Of course not! But ask yourself who is telling you these people hate America and how do they by the hatred.

 

[GEddie]

Individuals, groups, institutions, and countries often use the concept of “other” as part of one’s self-identity. They, he, or she are not like us and the implication is that “other” implies or equals danger and become our “enemy”.

It is very desirable for the military industrial complex to ensure that our government have an enemy so we can justify spending.

It is very desirable for certain groups to be demonized by both political parties for fundraising.

I’m from Boston. We created the concept of sport rivalries!

It’s all very pragmatic and example of manipulation.

How, does that mean there are no people in the world who hate America. Of course not! But ask yourself who is telling you these people hate America and how do they by the hatred.

It’s all part of the chimpanzee tribal instinct.

The same drive fuels anti-USA protests in the EC.

ICXC NIKA

 

[7_Sorrows]

Don’t you remember GWB’s answer to that question, in his own inimitable manner: “They hate us for our freedom.”

The black-and-white mindset of “us” against “them” and “good” against “evil” is often very psychologically reassuring, especially when “G-d is on our side.”

Note to estesbob: Bush in post #4.

He was correct. They hate the West for many things including our freedoms which the Oama administration is slowl taking away from us also. There is a lot of evil out there as we witness in our daily news.
I used to feel safe in my own country feeling we were for the common good of all. Now our government under Obama doesn’t even seem to be for the common good of its own citizens.
I don’t know anyone from North Korea or from Castro’s Cuba, but I will take America anyday over those 2 countries and the middle east.
There will always be wars unless we can make the world a perfect place.

 

[7_Sorrows]

1984, Brave New World, … pretty high-minded stuff. What about Wag the Dog?

I saw Wag the Dog years ago. Wish I could see it again.

 

[tabycat]

Oh boy the Bushes, 4 generations of war profiteering! This thread is not the place for their sordid history. After reading about thtem, I pretty much gave up about politics in general. You have to be a war monger if you are conservative and a libertine if on the left, no middle ground for true values.
The US meddling in the Middle East is the CAUSE of the rats coming out of the woodwork. Saddam may have been a tyrant, the same with Gaddafi, but they were holding things together. Freedom to die, right, about 100,000! WMD’s, oh sure! Who brought in lethal spent uranium, poisoning large swaths of the country of Iraq enough to last for another million or so years.
I gave up. The ONLY thing important to me is God. “Place not your trust in men.” For sure not politicians with moneyed interests like Halliburton. Don’t get me started…

Who do you think should be blamed for King Davad’s wars (c1000 BC)? The Bushes? The human race has had wars for about as long as there has been around. OBTH Hitler and Stalin also ‘held things togather’ while murdering over thirty million of their own people.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Who do you think should be blamed for King Davad’s wars (c1000 BC)? The Bushes? The human race has had wars for about as long as there has been around. OBTH Hitler and Stalin also ‘held things togather’ while murdering over thirty million of their own people.

Thank you! Well said.