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War.

11/11/2009

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"War is hell " ( Sherman), and the young men and women who bear the brunt of it....killed, maimed and scarred sacrificing, in order that a better world would emerge. That has not been the case and we go back to war under many guises and they are called upon to sacrifice again. There are wars that are waged for profit, be it resources/greed ( in Africa right now...the gold , diamond, oil etc) or land ( Palestine)or for some real or imagined wrong or slight ( the jihadis in Pakistan/ Afghanistan/ Yemen/ Somalia), or in order to gain " a better life" ( Columbia) or for revenge ( Bush's invasion of Afgahanistan and Iraq after 9/11). There are always "justifications", but too often they are merely excuses to cover up the real intention.
     No one wins in a war. There may be temporary gains, but in the long run, everyone loses. Sun Tzu, noted that " to win without fighting is best" ( The Ar of War)...use negotiations/ diplomacy, economic means etc. but there is little support for this...Obama is trying with Iran, North Korea, but the "hawks" and their corporate buddies are out for blood. Money/ profits have to be made and the manufacturers of weapons are concerned for their "bottom line". Obama's deliberations ( like Carter's emphasis on human rights) are anathema to them. Rush to arms is their mantra and to hell with the consequences....death and destruction to fuel other wars and more profits for these "merchants of death".  The world is fortunate that there is an American president who is not "gun happy". It would be easy for Obama to send more troops, to "nuke' Iran and North Korea and put missile shields in Eastern Europe, start a new cold war with Russia and China , and continue the useless Cuban policy, but his sober approach is what we need at this time and on this day, when we are honoring the millions, both military and civilians, who have been lost to the hopelessness of war.
      It is not easy being a peacemaker, especially when you are faced with what Eisenhower called "the congressional, military- industrial complex". LEST WE FORGET, has become a shallow refrain, which we trot out every November 11, and then forget.     
 
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    fig 2-b My Father and Mother to whom I owe everything

    "Ecce Homo"  ("Behold the Man"), Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Pontius Pilate presenting a scourged Jesus to the people of Jerusalem.

    fig 1-b


    figure 1-a

    F. Goya
    Two men fighting with clubs
    circa 1819-1823

    The Black Paintings Period


    (Fig 2a) The Death of Innocents


    Author

     Ishwar R. Prashad recently retired from over 47 years of teaching.

    He taught Political Science variously at Dawson College, Loyola College, Algoma University College, Sir George Williams University, Concordia University and Vanier College.

    Previously, he taught for nine years in Port Mourant, Guyana.


    He became Principal of Corentyne Comprehensive High School at the tender age of 21. During this time he turned down Scholarship offers to study overseas in England and the U.S.S.R.

    He chose Canada and after graduating from Sir George Williams with a B.A Honours with Distinction, he accepted a Fellowship to complete his graduate work at McMaster University. He completed his first two degrees-Bachelors and Masters- in three years.  

    His last position was as Co-Ordinator of Political Science and Economics at Vanier College and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Concordia University.

    He is married to the former Juliet Ramcharan (Library Supervisor, McGill University) and together they have three children – Indra R. Prashad, P.Eng. ,McGill (Presently Manager, Ontario Safe Water Drinking Agency), Ishwar R. Prashad Jr., B.A ,McGill (Presently, President, Kismit Gear Inc.) and Rabindra Y. Prashad, (Presently, Artist and Chef).They are the proud Grandparents of eight grandchildren-Miranda, Kamal, Ayesha, Élan, Anĵa , Étienne, Chloé, and Jasmine.

     

     

     





     



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