REMEMBERING THE PEOPLE AND THE WORDS USED TO JUSTIFY MASS KILLINGS

After the bomb fell in Hiroshima, Japan

Today is the 65th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima. On August 9 we will remember Nagasaki. I think it is important during these days to recall that the USA is the only country in the world to have ever used nuclear weapons against another people. That should temper some of the self-righteousness as our government lectures some nations about the evils of nukes.

Massive spending on nuclear weapons goes on today at the Department of Energy laboratories in the U.S. New generations of military systems - from robotics, drones, cyber warfare, space weapons technology, nano-technology, and more - are being developed that will give the Pentagon the ability to kill on an even grander scale.

All in the name of liberty, freedom, and democracy.

When I was a kid growing up behind the barbed-wire fences on military bases I internalized those words. I thought I was patriotic. But after many years I have learned that those words have other meanings.

Freedom really means unrestrained capitalism. The military's job is to clear the path for corporate globalization which is mega-capitalism. Bulldozer capitalism that takes what it wants and destroys what it doesn't need.

Democracy means a Disney World-like place where the illusion of "control by the people" is held up but the reality is much different. Again the corporations run the show in the real world.

Liberty is for those who can pay for it. The legal system works for those with the most money. Free speech is for those who can afford to buy it. Freedom to protest is manipulated and allowed when it suits the interests of those in power. The recent denial of our international space conference by the supposed "democracy" in India is just one example.

I will spend the day tomorrow at the 6th annual Peace Fair in nearby Brunswick that is being organized by the local group called PeaceWorks. I've been asked to put up our Bring Our War $$ Home banner at the event.

During these coming days I will be thinking about those who needlessly died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki when the U.S. "tested" its nukes on human beings.

I will also be thinking more about these words that are used to hide and justify the real intentions of U.S. military power - corporate domination of the people and the Mother Earth.

All wars must end.