TOMORROW'S TROOPS
If our armed forces of the future are to be, in any way, based on the examples our children are learning to respect and admire through their childish “games” - we are finished, doomed, wiped out, obliterated.
Aside from all military budgets, alterations in plans, devious, deft or dirty tricks being studied in chart and diagram settings nothing could be more critical than some sensible decisions concerning what our young people are going to be watching in their “entertainment” hours. Delay may be costly, and make such preparations yet another example of “too little” and “too late.”
There can no longer be even a slight pretense about the existence of too much violence in children's games which are increasingly popular at all age levels. The term itself has been violated. Mere containment of an enemy and putting a halt to their evil work is no longer sufficient. Total eradication is the rule. No “conventions” apply – especially from and ”Geneva” groups setting forth concepts of peaceful understanding – even though they be far from being practical. No game ever yields to an enemy. No quarter is allowed.
Wars cannot be perfect. There are said to be rules but they are ignored and of value only in attempting to justify any actions taken. The actual killing of another human being has now been altered to eliminate pain, suffering, and other such unpleasant elements. A person ceases to be in a brilliant flash of light as a rule – no bloodshed, physical suffering, no screaming , no return fire – all that is evil - gone forever. Those who produce, sell and encourage the use of such “games” actually use that sort of argument to help them sell their wares.
Temporary solutions have, thus far, tended to put the “foxes” in charge of protecting the “chickens.” Major producers of far-out versions of literary classics vow to modify their paths but little is done that will, in any way, impede the steady profits. Your computer screen has recently suffered a blight “pop-up” commercials. Among them was a program offered for sale which would kill all such unwanted pop-ups and it was made and sold by the same company which was producing in an epidemic portion the actual pop-ups. The game producers are, in a like manner, ”working both sides “of the controversial street to their advantages ...a film of a badly warped classic story; a “game” based loosely on it, and advertising extolling the cooperate view of the fine, old established classics for children. Re-selling such fake antiques is dishonest but profitable under present “arrangements”in regard to copyright and the extensions thereof.
The youthful impression as to what constitutes a modern defensive army is woefully inadequate. Their armed forces consist of a few muscle-bound hulks bearing equipment for killing which has not yet been invented. Military operations, far too many of them, are the youthful militant as wholesale transactions - mass obliterations - rather than and rifled shots intended to take out specific individuals.
Imagine for just a moment the type of military force the game player anticipates. Such a cadre doesn't exist. The idea of a nationwide draft will become evident at any moment now. It was a hush-hush subject during the election years – understandably so - but we can expect it to become front page discussion before too long it will become and active topic. A great many individuals are going to be awakened to new realization of what military life is - not what the “games” make it seem to be.
It's not yet being said, but we need some changes – and soon - in this area preparedness.
A.L.M. November 22, 2004 [c619wds]
