No this is not a paean to Dylan Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night”. Though the Welsh poet’s imagery keeps coming to mind whenever there is news regarding those two ‘wars’ –and others–that many find so easy to ignore as they keep going about their daily routines. War is easy to ignore as long as it’s not being fought in your backyard, does not entail your children being listed as collateral damage, does not interfere with the pursuit of your career dreams. War is easy to ignore when you’re not a soldier under fire. War is easy to ignore if you’re not a civilian dodging bullets and bombs everywhere you go. War is easy to ignore if you’re not a nurse in a hospital in a war zone. War is easy to ignore if you’re a politician who never has nor ever will set a foot on the front line. War is easy to ignore if you’re a corporate executive rolling in the profits from the marketing of war. War is easy to ignore unless you are the one paying for it in blood.
We must create a better way to live or experience extinction–because that is The End Game secured by nuclear weapons of mass destruction. “Science” knows there’s no getting around that reality check.
Thich Quang Duc's Protest
om mani padme hum jewel in the lotus wahupa qi prana universal life energy
47whitebuffalo's Blog 
lesliepaints said,
August 15, 2010 at 11:21 pm
This brought tears. Probably because the post made me feel young again, oddly enough. I went to college during the protests, yet know wonderful people who served. I had a Father and an Uncle taken at Christmas to WWII. There is not a soul that this post does not touch in some way and you have done a magnificent job in making us look at ourselves. I agree. War is not an answer.
47whitebuffalo said,
August 16, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Tears and feeling young–that’s a wonderful compliment, Leslie. Something just has to change. Violence is so insane.
bigsurkate said,
August 15, 2010 at 3:21 am
I have a son-in-law who went to Iraq. He has been told if he “reups” he will be sent to Afghanistan. I was in the WAC in 67 and 68, and spent months in a VA hospital with guys who were blown up in Viet Nam. War is personal. War is never the answer. Your post says it so beautifully. I love the issues you tackle and how you write and illustrate and photograph. I am so glad Leslie introduced you to me!
47whitebuffalo said,
August 15, 2010 at 4:00 am
You are too kind–and so accurate–“War is personal. War is never the answer.”