Somehow, the Word ‘Peace’ Got Lost

[gratuitous]

8. Peace needs better special effects

I mean, peace doesn't blow stuff up reel gud, and you don't get to style yourself a war correspondent by covering peace. Our country, leader of the world, doesn't spend half its budget on peace, and peace doesn't write fat defense contracts. If you advocate for peace, you're immediately educated by the acolytes of the High Church of Redemptive Violence that the world is a very dangerous place, and if our country doesn't blow a bunch of people to smithereens, they might blow us to smithereens. And even if they can't, they might, and it's better to be "safe" than sorry.

Peace is for wimps and sissies. War is for manly men, armed to the teeth, who march shoulder to shoulder, blowing away women, kids and houses on command without remorse. We call that strength in this country, and we admire and celebrate it in every way possible, at all times and in all places. Any place showing insufficient celebration is itching for a visit from the devotees of the High Church, whose faith is our national religion, not to be questioned or doubted. It is our reason for existence, and the nation would vanish if it doesn't vanquish.