By John Hicks
Wars are numbing us down
The Civil War was the worst.
From history lessons I have absorbed, people were too numb to do much celebrating after it was over. On the other hand, people celebrated like crazy after World War I and even more so after World War II. I was old enough to remember that one. The sailor kissing the gal at Times Square was a marvelous and memorable moment. Everyone was jumping up and down or crying. Peace! Peace at last.
The Korean War didn’t have much impact after it was over, and the Vietnam War resulted in a major sigh of relief rather than any jumping up or down, or kissing. We’re still getting over that one; at least many service men are.
I want to go back to the word numb. The first book by J. T. Gatto was “Dumbing Us Down.” At this point in time, some author should write a book about our society titled, “Numbing Us Down.” I don’t think any author has the guts. We are numbed. We are indifferent, devoid of sensation, devoid of emotion. When we have been numbed down, we no longer have the ability to think or to look at the big picture.
Actually, I’m referring to our attitude about war. We have been numbed down to the point where the great majority of Americans accept war as part of their life, something to be with us forever. We don’t even jump up and down thinking about the end of war. Many movies focus on war and violence. Television news programs focus on war every day. Newspapers focus on war every day. The media focus on service men and women who are about to depart for war every day. The media focus on their families; it makes for great stories. Or the media focus on service men and women who are lucky enough to return from war still alive and how family members are jumping with joy to have them home — still alive.
We are numbed. Very few ask questions about WHY we are at war. We just accept the idea that our society is now a part of war — forever. We have service men and women coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan who have served four or five tours of duty. It’s like: “That’s the way it is, and that’s the way it ever shall be.” The wars are costing us billions we don’t have. Our schools and universities are being downgraded because we don’t have enough money to keep them on any quality level. We spend money on war. We have millions of citizens without health care and millions without jobs, but we must spend money on war — wars!
There are reasons why we have become numbed down. If anyone speaks about peace, they are not heard. Our leaders cannot speak about peace. They would never be reelected, or worse, they might be assassinated. In our military-industrial society, peace has become a dirty word — much more than a dirty word. We dare not speak about peace. Politicians dare not speak about peace. The media dare not speak about peace. Who have you heard speaking about peace lately? Do you dare speak about peace?
Actually, we are not at war. We are fighting criminals, but we can’t say we are fighting criminals because our military, our corporations, our politicians, and most of our citizens would not stand for it. We make weapons. We must use them or sell them. We must fight! War has become a part of the United States. We are numbed down… and apparently we love it.
Till that day comes. CV
John Hicks is a professor emeritus at Drake University.
