The Real War -- Ken Kesey

[Tace]

This is one of Kesey's last writings, penned just after 9-11 (includes spelling errors):

snip

Because we are talking not just about war, this time, but about the war above
the war: the Real War. This war has already been been waged, and it's not
between the US and the Taliban, or between the Moslems and the Isralies or
any of the familiar forces, but between the ancient gutwrenching bonebreaking
fleshslashing way things have always been and the timerous and fragile way
things might begin to be. Could begin to be. Must begin to be, if our lives
and our children's lives are ever, someday, in the upheaving future, to know
honest peace.

True, the warriors on our side of this Real War seem few and flimsey, but we
have a secret advantage: we don't fight our battle out of Hate. Anger, yes,
if we have to, but anger is enough. Hate is the flag the other side battles
beneath. It is the ancient flag of fire and blood and agony, and it waves
over the graves of millions and millions.

Our side's flag is a thin, airlight blue, drifting almost unseen against the
sky. Our military march is a meadowlark's song among the dandolions. And our
Real War rally isn't given any space at the United States Congress. Where can
you hear it? Lots of places, if you listen. Across Dairy Queen counters. In
the careful post office talk. The e-mail is where I've been hearing it, for
days now, and the entries are getting clearer and more numerous. At first
only ten or fifteen. Then fifty or sixty. And this morning more than three
hundred! Here are a few chunks and pieces that I printed out:

more

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