U.S. Special Ops Troops

In an email about a meeting I received this morning I learned a new word ‘bellicose’. It was used to describe Iran and another person responded to the email using “bellicose” to describe the USA. When I heard the word “bellicose” applied to Iran and USA I had to look up the word. The definition I found is “ready or inclined to quarrel, fight, or go to war.” I am not sure if this word applies to Iran but it certainly applies to the USA, especially in the Middle East. As we rattle our weapons over Syria and Iran I am reminded of the devastating civil wars in Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan the USA and its allies have supported and encouraged. These wars killed hundreds and thousands of people and left so many injured and as refugees. They have also cost us so many dead and wounded soldiers and so much money. Yes “bellicose” is a good word to describe the USA.

The person that introduced me to the word ‘bellicose’ was announcing a meeting this week of an organization devoted to strengthening the United Nationalism. I responded to her that this was all and good but until we had a change in the bellicose USA there would never be an effective United Nationalism.

I was reminded of a picture quote that I had recently received from a group in India supporting the way of doing things of Mahatma Gandhi. “It is impossible for one to be internationalist without being a nationalist. Internationalism is possible only when nationalism becomes a fact, i.e., when peoples belonging to different countries have organized themselves and are able to act as one man. It is not nationalism that is evil, it is the narrowness, selfishness, exclusiveness which is the bane of modern nations which is evil. Each wants to profit at the expense of, and rise on the ruin of, the other.” (YI, 18–6−1925, p. 211)

Using another principle of Gandhi, Swadeshi, the use and service of our immediate surroundings over those more remote or foreign, I responded to my UN friend that we must first change the conditions and bellicose United States before we can take on a world organization like the UN. She did not like hearing this but as with all major change or revolution of an individual or a nation change starts at home. Changing our bellicose world starts at home.

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