Cathy's challenge Boys with Toys, essay
by
Walter Jones
(Age: 64)
copyright 02-11-2003
Age Rating: 18 to 127
Since the beginning of time,
man has taken from man.
There is always a desire to
have what the other guys got.
Since the beginning institutions,
men justify taking what belongs
to other men.
Like gangs on our streets,
countries band together for
protection and justification,
for taking what belongs to others.
The wants of one out weighs
the needs of others.
In this country,
we use up the rest
of the world resources.
We are the king
of the hill;
standing tall for
the next person
to take a wack at.
My country right or wrong,
my life style,
be like me if you are
strong enough.
Take what you want,
live the good life,
set the bar,
what ever it takes.
Not just a few
but everyone is entitled.
You don’t need
to work for it, just take,
might makes right.
Words are written.
History sets the stage.
I defend my right to this life.
Fear forces me to take drastic steps.
War is the outcome
of years creating a life that is not
supported by the work done.
You threaten my safety, you can hurt me, I will hurt you first. My gang against your gang. Nobody wins, but I make you less of a threat to my way of life.
Death comes, the value of life, small cost for living comfortable, what are a few sons and daughters, I can always have more.
A mother cries,
A father dies,
A soldiers
Life is hard
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I enjoyed reading this poem. It has special meaning to me as a combat veteran of two branches of the military. You have taken a very complicated issue and made your case as to the origin of conflict between man. I found it interesting that you did not mention nor focus on nature or rather human nature. Not so surprised as it is a very complicated issue. Although I find your poem very liberal in nature... I enjoyed the read nevertheless.
This is a really difficult work to read. Not because of the content, but because it may be so true, that our mind brings counter-arguments against. The fact remains: old men start the wars, young men pay the price.
Been read many times, perhaps if read a few more, the reality of the waste will be understood.
Like Herbert Hoover once said, "Old men declare war, but it is the young men that must die." or something like that. Anyway, you are right... right now a "might makes right" mentality pervades society. Power is measured in how quickly you can cut someone down using a gun, knife, fist, or words. If someone is weaker than you and they have something you want, feel free to wrest it from their clutches. The same seems to apply to politics and foreign affairs.
Fighting seems to be the quick and popular answer to problems, be it on the streets or in international politics. Nothing like a quick stomping to prove your point! Unfortunately, it is young men who must pay for the leader's pleasure of declaring war, because they end up on the front lines fighting for the cause. Sometimes the cause is just and other times it is questionable, but in either case people on both sides die. You illustrate that a soldier's life is indeed a hard lot.
Enough with my rambling. You have shown that it is easy to declare a war but hard to fight it. The last three lines really stick with me because that is warfare in a nutshell: you or them, no chance to negotiate. The line about "What are a few sons and daughters, I can have more..." sticks with me because it highlights a sad truth that the leaders civilian and military sometimes take towards soldiers: cannon fodder to be used and replaced, rinse and repeat as necessary until war outcome is decided. You have done well with exposing the unsavory side of warfare and the view of the average soldier... good work!
Welcome !
