Originally posted by seagull
If it's a second American civil war, I'm opting out...
These so called sides are nothing more than a contrivance by those on either "side" who seek power and position. I refuse to give them the
satisfaction...
The only side I'm going to choose is my own.
I will think my own thoughts, and act as I feel I should...without regard to whether it suits one side or another.
In other words: To Hell With All Of Them...
Seagull, I can understand your position. I empathize with it and
peace is my desire as well. Since we're calling this a civil
war why don't we use our first civil war (1861-1865) as a frame of reference.
Before Fort Sumter was fired upon in Charleston harbor by the
Confederates probably MOST of the nation felt exactly as you. i.e. -
we don't want a war. Many people on either side didn't actually
think that hostilities were inevitable. The position of the South
was simply "let us go in peace". Lincoln and others in the cabinet
wouldn't hear of it, it was All the Union or nothing. Lincoln insured
a war by refusing to surrender Federal property that was in
Confederate territory.
Lincoln could've easily ordered the surrender of Ft. Sumter and
there may have not been any war at all. But certain seccessionist
hot-heads opened fire on the fort and the war had begun. An
obstinate person in control on either side can virtually guarantee
that conflict will ensue. Both sides thought that the war would be a
quick and easy affair, many joined lest they lose the opportunity
to "share in the glory" as it were. Regionalist pride trumped
commonsense and compromise and the war began in earnest.
With each new battle casualty lists grew longer and longer until
just 20 months after it had begun the battle of Antietam claimed
23.000 casualties in a single day of fighting. No-one could have
forseen the horrific carnage that would come just as today we
cannot guess at what the cost will ultimately be should a second
civil war occur.
Just as then we are seeing a division among Americans not along
the lines of state's rights but of Individual rights and the meaning
and substance of the Constitution on one side. on the other hand
there are those who feel that the Federal Government should do
whatever it deems necessary (regardless of the will of the people)
which seems at present to be giving exhorbitant amounts of money
and legislative advantage to mega-banks and multinational
corporations.
Clearly the Constitution has been trampled, individual rights
subborned for what they claim to be the "security and prosperity"
of the nation.
Will the best interests of multinational corporations be served or
shall the good of the people come first? This is the line in the sand
that sooner or later, one side will cross.
Should a war come you might elude for a while like those high in
the smoky mountains or the western territories but eventually a
draft was instituted by both sides. The war came to you wherever
you lived and whether you wanted it or not . Your money was taken
to pay for the war as well as your crops, livestock or sons. The
American civil war touched all but the richest, who could live in
luxury and pay for substitutes to go to war for them.
Once again it will be the poor who bear the brunt either economically
or physically when conflict comes. But it is coming and I have no
intention of seeing the "World's last best hope" go down the drain of corruption, greed and oppression.
My forefathers fought and died on American fields, islands in the
pacific and the air over Europe to give us the freedoms guaranteed
by our Constitution and I am prepared to do the same should the
need arise. Like at Fort Sumter, Americans are waiting for the first
shots to be fired, then all hell will break loose.
This isn't prophecy, it's just the way of history.