Events at home and overseas trouble our souls: New directions provide opportunities
Steve Hammons
October 09, 2006
Looking at recent news events and analyses of them, certain patterns, common denominators and overlapping factors sometimes seem to emerge.
There may be things we can learn about the current human condition from a handful of these news reports.
Insights about the state of American society and human society might give us ideas about how to move forward in the future, something that is urgently needed.
In Washington, D.C., male teenagers, 16 or 17 years old, were targeted for sexual relationships by a congressman.
In the occupation of Iraq, more U.S. Army soldiers, Marines and other service members continue to die and be terribly injured. Many are 18 or 19 years old – also teenagers. They and their fellow service members were sent to Iraq by people who seem to get gratification from it, making politicians and their supporters appear to themselves and others as macho, strong and virile – despite that fact that many are "chicken hawks" who actively avoided combat service in past conflicts or who avoid combat service now.
Innocent Iraqi children, teens and adults continue to die in the violence unleashed by the invasion of Iraq. A recent news account reported that two pre-teen Iraqi girls hugged each other as they were incinerated by an explosive blast and fireball.
A handful of U.S. soldiers remain in custody, accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl, then shooting her and setting her body on fire after breaking into her home and killing her parents and younger sister, a small child.
In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a man shoots young girls in the head in a schoolhouse. The girls were 7 to 13 years old. He obtains some sick sense of power and control, including a sexual component, by murdering these innocent children, almost as a form of human sacrifice.
In Lebanon, a 12-year-old boy is the one of latest victims killed by leftover U.S.-made cluster bombs, dropped by Israel during the recent conflict there, when one falls from a tree, explodes and shrapnel pierces the boy´s head.
A new joint U.S. Army-Marine Corps field manual on counterinsurgency operations advocates a different way of approaching situations such as the occupation of Iraq and efforts in Afghanistan. This manual indicates a changed psychology, a changed consciousness about Army and Marine methods, tactics and goals. It reportedly emphasizes "soft power" and avoiding the "collateral damage" of killing innocent men, women and children.
CHANGE OF STRATEGY AND HEART
What do these developments, events and situations have to teach us about human nature and ways to make progress in the future?
The new Army-Marine viewpoint seems to be on the right track: Killing, bombing, destroying, imprisoning, torturing and sacrificing human life may not be the most effective ways to accomplish goals that are good for America and Americans – or good for the international community and the human race.
Understanding human psychology and behavior seems to be a key factor. Many of the difficult and even terrible situations we face are based on human perception, emotions and understanding, or lack of understanding.
For example, in matters such as finding reasonably successful solutions to problems in Afghanistan and Iraq, there are other tactics that can accomplish the goals of neutralizing adversaries, encouraging peace, discouraging rampant killing and destruction, making friends for America, achieving prosperity, assisting in human development and generally helping people move forward.
One area of promise is an emphasis on positive, honest and straightforward psychological operations, influence operations and information operations. Using these methods in a psychologically and socially "therapeutic" way might enhance the chances of successful outcomes.
These efforts can also be effective here at home where American society sometimes seems seriously damaged by violence, crime, mental and emotional illness, poverty, homelessness, foolish entertainment, child abuse and with a greater percentage of our citizens in prison than any other country on the planet.
Many of the goals and methods to improve the human condition in Afghanistan, Iraq the United States or anywhere are basically the same. Examples include:
Providing opportunities for people to earn a decent living, care for their families and live in a decent home and community with dignity and reasonable safety.
Helping people become educated with an opportunity to thrive as human beings and contribute to human society.
Assisting people obtain health care for themselves and sick and injured loved ones.
Encouraging positive human relationships, human decency, fairness, compassion, fellowship and, yes, love.
These are some of the kinds of psychological operations and influence operations that make sense.
There are other basic strategies along these lines, including ones familiar to most Americans: "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and "liberty and justice for all."
These phrases should not just be idle words that we repeat without heartfelt meaning. We would do well to take them seriously and try to implement them at home and abroad.
ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC
Unfortunately, in recent years certain elements in American society and government have steadily ridiculed and damaged some of the most fundamental elements of our Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. This continues today.
In many ways, the social fabric of our society has also deteriorated. Hypocrisy and lies have invaded us. Greed and moral corruption have attacked us from within.
Shadowy and discreet groups have reportedly infiltrated the current U.S. administration with their philosophy that average Americans are stupid and need to be manipulated by deceit and led by people behind the scenes, behind the "front men."
Part of this belief system seems to include a thorough disrespect for the American people and our history, which are certainly not perfect and include many serious dilemmas and problematic elements.
Some of these groups helped push us into the Iraq War. Many of the willing chicken hawks and war profiteers hardly needed the extra encouragement, but this unholy alliance has created the massive human sacrifice of thousands of American troops and innocent Iraqi civilians.
In recent years and now, under current government officials as well as many of those in control of the communications media, we have seen our decency, honor and moral direction seriously damaged. This kind of deterioration can spread to many aspects of our lives.
Like the populations of some other areas of the world, we seem to have become confused about good and evil, right and wrong. And misguided leaders at home and in other nations also continue to confuse the people.
Some of these leaders, on all sides, advocate killing, killing, killing the perceived enemy. They say killing innocent people and children is part of the fight.
The bombs that kill innocents can be improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or dropped from a high-tech warplane. The terror and bloodshed is the same.
Here at home, Americans´ hearts and minds have been manipulated and twisted by unsavory people and groups, further damaging our our society and our democracy.
PROTECTING OUR NATION
To turn around our own country and achieve some kind of reasonable solutions for Iraq and Afghanistan, it may be necessary to make significant adjustments.
So, like the new Army-Marine field manual recommends, we must explore different options and maybe take a different course. We might need to develop new strategies to win hearts and minds. Not just for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and internationally, but also in our own nation.
For we, too, face an insurgency of sorts at home. American society is under attack. Not only from so-called terrorists, but also from within. From corrupt politicians and their cronies, from the injustices in our own society, from the darkness that can invade our own hearts and minds.
The terrorism and threats we face at home include the daily reports of horrific killings of innocents, moral corruption in high places, deaths and terrible injuries to our loved ones serving in the military, damage to our honor, "blowback" from misguided and deceptive foreign policies, threats of the loss of our basic liberties and prospects of long-term economic decline and national debt.
When we successfully turn back these threats, use our intelligence and moral integrity to take our nation in a new direction and determine to help our fellow human beings, maybe the news accounts we hear will be more uplifting.
Maybe in coming days, months and years the people of the United States and our government will adopt strategies and methods that help our country and our world move toward a better future.
It will take a change of psychology and a different consciousness. It will take intelligence in the fullest, widest and deepest meanings of the word. It will take the courage and strength of Americans to regain control of our destiny and direction.
AUTHOR NOTE TO READERS: Please visit my Joint Recon Study Group blog.
There may be things we can learn about the current human condition from a handful of these news reports.
Insights about the state of American society and human society might give us ideas about how to move forward in the future, something that is urgently needed.
In Washington, D.C., male teenagers, 16 or 17 years old, were targeted for sexual relationships by a congressman.
In the occupation of Iraq, more U.S. Army soldiers, Marines and other service members continue to die and be terribly injured. Many are 18 or 19 years old – also teenagers. They and their fellow service members were sent to Iraq by people who seem to get gratification from it, making politicians and their supporters appear to themselves and others as macho, strong and virile – despite that fact that many are "chicken hawks" who actively avoided combat service in past conflicts or who avoid combat service now.
Innocent Iraqi children, teens and adults continue to die in the violence unleashed by the invasion of Iraq. A recent news account reported that two pre-teen Iraqi girls hugged each other as they were incinerated by an explosive blast and fireball.
A handful of U.S. soldiers remain in custody, accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl, then shooting her and setting her body on fire after breaking into her home and killing her parents and younger sister, a small child.
In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a man shoots young girls in the head in a schoolhouse. The girls were 7 to 13 years old. He obtains some sick sense of power and control, including a sexual component, by murdering these innocent children, almost as a form of human sacrifice.
In Lebanon, a 12-year-old boy is the one of latest victims killed by leftover U.S.-made cluster bombs, dropped by Israel during the recent conflict there, when one falls from a tree, explodes and shrapnel pierces the boy´s head.
A new joint U.S. Army-Marine Corps field manual on counterinsurgency operations advocates a different way of approaching situations such as the occupation of Iraq and efforts in Afghanistan. This manual indicates a changed psychology, a changed consciousness about Army and Marine methods, tactics and goals. It reportedly emphasizes "soft power" and avoiding the "collateral damage" of killing innocent men, women and children.
CHANGE OF STRATEGY AND HEART
What do these developments, events and situations have to teach us about human nature and ways to make progress in the future?
The new Army-Marine viewpoint seems to be on the right track: Killing, bombing, destroying, imprisoning, torturing and sacrificing human life may not be the most effective ways to accomplish goals that are good for America and Americans – or good for the international community and the human race.
Understanding human psychology and behavior seems to be a key factor. Many of the difficult and even terrible situations we face are based on human perception, emotions and understanding, or lack of understanding.
For example, in matters such as finding reasonably successful solutions to problems in Afghanistan and Iraq, there are other tactics that can accomplish the goals of neutralizing adversaries, encouraging peace, discouraging rampant killing and destruction, making friends for America, achieving prosperity, assisting in human development and generally helping people move forward.
One area of promise is an emphasis on positive, honest and straightforward psychological operations, influence operations and information operations. Using these methods in a psychologically and socially "therapeutic" way might enhance the chances of successful outcomes.
These efforts can also be effective here at home where American society sometimes seems seriously damaged by violence, crime, mental and emotional illness, poverty, homelessness, foolish entertainment, child abuse and with a greater percentage of our citizens in prison than any other country on the planet.
Many of the goals and methods to improve the human condition in Afghanistan, Iraq the United States or anywhere are basically the same. Examples include:
Providing opportunities for people to earn a decent living, care for their families and live in a decent home and community with dignity and reasonable safety.
Helping people become educated with an opportunity to thrive as human beings and contribute to human society.
Assisting people obtain health care for themselves and sick and injured loved ones.
Encouraging positive human relationships, human decency, fairness, compassion, fellowship and, yes, love.
These are some of the kinds of psychological operations and influence operations that make sense.
There are other basic strategies along these lines, including ones familiar to most Americans: "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and "liberty and justice for all."
These phrases should not just be idle words that we repeat without heartfelt meaning. We would do well to take them seriously and try to implement them at home and abroad.
ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC
Unfortunately, in recent years certain elements in American society and government have steadily ridiculed and damaged some of the most fundamental elements of our Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. This continues today.
In many ways, the social fabric of our society has also deteriorated. Hypocrisy and lies have invaded us. Greed and moral corruption have attacked us from within.
Shadowy and discreet groups have reportedly infiltrated the current U.S. administration with their philosophy that average Americans are stupid and need to be manipulated by deceit and led by people behind the scenes, behind the "front men."
Part of this belief system seems to include a thorough disrespect for the American people and our history, which are certainly not perfect and include many serious dilemmas and problematic elements.
Some of these groups helped push us into the Iraq War. Many of the willing chicken hawks and war profiteers hardly needed the extra encouragement, but this unholy alliance has created the massive human sacrifice of thousands of American troops and innocent Iraqi civilians.
In recent years and now, under current government officials as well as many of those in control of the communications media, we have seen our decency, honor and moral direction seriously damaged. This kind of deterioration can spread to many aspects of our lives.
Like the populations of some other areas of the world, we seem to have become confused about good and evil, right and wrong. And misguided leaders at home and in other nations also continue to confuse the people.
Some of these leaders, on all sides, advocate killing, killing, killing the perceived enemy. They say killing innocent people and children is part of the fight.
The bombs that kill innocents can be improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or dropped from a high-tech warplane. The terror and bloodshed is the same.
Here at home, Americans´ hearts and minds have been manipulated and twisted by unsavory people and groups, further damaging our our society and our democracy.
PROTECTING OUR NATION
To turn around our own country and achieve some kind of reasonable solutions for Iraq and Afghanistan, it may be necessary to make significant adjustments.
So, like the new Army-Marine field manual recommends, we must explore different options and maybe take a different course. We might need to develop new strategies to win hearts and minds. Not just for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and internationally, but also in our own nation.
For we, too, face an insurgency of sorts at home. American society is under attack. Not only from so-called terrorists, but also from within. From corrupt politicians and their cronies, from the injustices in our own society, from the darkness that can invade our own hearts and minds.
The terrorism and threats we face at home include the daily reports of horrific killings of innocents, moral corruption in high places, deaths and terrible injuries to our loved ones serving in the military, damage to our honor, "blowback" from misguided and deceptive foreign policies, threats of the loss of our basic liberties and prospects of long-term economic decline and national debt.
When we successfully turn back these threats, use our intelligence and moral integrity to take our nation in a new direction and determine to help our fellow human beings, maybe the news accounts we hear will be more uplifting.
Maybe in coming days, months and years the people of the United States and our government will adopt strategies and methods that help our country and our world move toward a better future.
It will take a change of psychology and a different consciousness. It will take intelligence in the fullest, widest and deepest meanings of the word. It will take the courage and strength of Americans to regain control of our destiny and direction.
AUTHOR NOTE TO READERS: Please visit my Joint Recon Study Group blog.
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