end can never justify a poor means, because it is the means that generates
events down the road. The reasoned outcome is the fog of self- interest that
limits our view of the true nature of the event, and its consequences
remain hidden from our self-enlightened view." She leaned back.
"Westerner's idea of patriotism has them bowing to deviant versions of
duty, courage, and honour, no different from the Iranian‘s religious beliefs
sanctifying the death of their children. The nature of both acts is to
celebrate the slaughter. All arguments to the contrary are reasoned spin
based on second hand convictions. There is no caveat—no middle ground
in =what is‘—but survivors and the families of the dead buy into the
reasoning that there are circumstances that approve of such events,
because these beliefs justify the sacrifice, and placate their sense of loss."
"Can you strip down duty, or courage, or honour in the same way?" I
squeezed my eyes shut, feeling as if I was on the edge of really, really,
getting it this time.
"Logically," Bonnie said, "our first duty is to learn about and assume
our responsibilities for ourselves, after which we can take care of those
whom we have attached to our lives, and/or can‘t properly fend for
themselves. This takes great courage without giving into your own flaws
and damaging others, thereby honouring their independent path and
purpose. When we can responsibly deal with the two square feet we
occupy, our nation cannot help but deal with issues responsibly because
our leaders would come from their own two square feet, and not be
separate by way of the aphrodisiacs of power and immunity. They would
understand responsibility based on the nature of their actions, not based on
the numbers their decisions may immediately affect: the numbers follow
as a matter of momentum.
"Good, thanks—back to parade thing," I said before I lost my train of
thought. "I agree that partying after a war sucks as a 'look at what we did'
kind of thing, but aren‘t parades also a celebration of survival for the
participants—maybe even closure to them and society as a whole?" This
idea prompted a related thought. "There wasn‘t any celebrating at the
Vietnam Memorial."
"That wall isn‘t what you think it is."
"No doubt," I sniggered. "What‘s the Stalker‘s version of it?"
"It is an attempt to reconstruct a national image of a just and caring
people. In fact, it honours the useless sacrifice of loved ones based on the
shame of defeat, and from society throwing away their returning veterans.
It is a national memorial to carnage, and a source of sad inspiration for
generations of cannon fodder to co me that will see it as an error in tactics,
and not that war is wrong in every way."
