Lions Led By Donkeys

I am about to deliver some of the most shocking news you’ve ever read on this blog. Please pour yourself a large scotch and settle down in a comfy chair with some smelling salts and a portable defibrillator close by.

By the way, that last sentence also acts as a legal disclaimer in case you have a cardiac arrest or some form of seizure reading what I’m about to say, so take head this isn’t for the feint-hearted.

I don’t like war.

Are you still with me? Please give yourself time to get your breath back and for your blood pressure to return to normal before reading more shocking revelations.

I thought about starting the post with the Edwin Starr lyrics – War What Is It Good For – Absolutely Nothing. Then I realized that even though I shook the greats mans hand once at a concert in Matlock Bath, I never particular liked that track. The lyrics are very cool, but as an anthem it really doesn’t do that much for me.

The more I try and shake things up round here and push the boundaries, the more I find myself being dragged back into the murky world of beliefs and values, which unsurprisingly is where I find myself yet again today.

It’s my beliefs and values that make me believe war or conflict is the wrong choice 95% of the time. I’m not going to push that to 100% because I really don’t know how you solve rampant expansionism when the aggressor won’t sit down and talk. Could anybody have stopped Hitler at that point in history without resorting to force? I really doubt it, but I could be wrong and maybe I am and that’s why I never grew up to rule a country.

Today is Veterans Day for those of you that are in the US. In the UK and (I think) Europe as a whole it is known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. It remembers the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month that marked the end of The Great War in 1918.

Few people come out of any war smiling, but the First World War was possibly an all time low for humanity. It spawned the phrase ‘Lions led by donkeys’ to describe the British infantrymen that were commanded by possibly the biggest bunch of incompetent, callous bastards, military history has ever known. At the Battle of the Somme alone the British forces had almost 20,000 men killed on the first day. The net result was a total of 1.5 million casualties (about the population of Philadelphia) over a 5-month period.

Of course it’s easy to look at a war that ended 90 years ago and say it couldn’t happen again now. Unless of course you bother to chart history and see that mankind appears doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again. Maybe not on the same scale as WWI, but in the time it takes you to read this post somebody has died somewhere on the planet due to conflict. It’s a sobering thought.

I had to drive into downtown Orlando this morning and had Sirius radio on listening to (American) football chat. All the listeners that were calling in were either current or ex-service men and women. Being Veterans Day they were quite rightly being thanked for their loyal service to the country.

It was the lions led by donkeys phrase that was running through my mind as I listened to the radio. I have no doubt that most of the men and women who join the military do so for genuine and honorable reasons, because it certainly isn’t for the great pay and wonderful working conditions! They believe they can make a difference and make this country a safer place and I applaud them for that.

The fact that I as an individual think that the US and US citizens are less secure than at any time in the countries short history really doesn’t matter. I’m not even going to debate the issue, because it’s only an opinion based on my beliefs and values and as I often say, I could be wrong.

Sadly, it doesn’t really matter how honorable the intentions of the servicemen and women are or how much they want to make a difference. It’s the politicians and top brass that decide whether they’ll be at home with their family on Christmas Day or bivouacked on some freezing Afghanistan mountain hoping to get through the night alive. The Lions just go where the Donkeys send them.

I really could go on and on with this one, but it’s not really going to add any value because you’re either already with me or against me and nothing I say will change your mind.

So I want to end by offering a huge THANK YOU to the millions of service people that have fought for their country with best intentions. I admire you all and you have my best wishes for a safe homecoming if you’re overseas.

And a huge Thanks For Nothing to ALL the politicians and leaders of the world that have failed time and again to keep the world a safe place and have all too easily turned to violence and warfare, often to meet their own selfish agenda. I’d call you donkeys, but that’s an unnecessary slur. After all, I’ve no wish to cast lovely cute donkeys in the same light as many of you.

LINK LOVE

Jenny runs the Heal Pain Naturally blog and her own story of recovery is an amazing one. Check out this post about the Law of Attraction!! Ok, I know I said previously I was doubtful about the whole LoA thing and I still am, but it pays to keep an open-mind ;-)

This is an amazing story supplied by Lyman Reed via Laura Young’s site. If you’re not inspired by this, you may already be dead or at the very least a politician.

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19 Comments So Far.

Comment by Pentad on 11 November 2008:

Well, if you’re wrong, then I’m wrong with you on this one. But, you know….I didn’t give birth to my two sons only to tell them 18 years later, “please go overseas and possibly die. It would make me so proud”…ehhh. I think you get my point. Although, I too respect our servicemen and support them and their safety, which in my mind means, ‘a safe return’. As many other families, I also have a lot of veterans in my family, and it has been sad to see them all dealing with one consequence or another.

Pentads last blog post..Lieberman Dilemma. Should he stay, or should he go?
Comment by Kim Woodbridge on 11 November 2008:

Thank you for this. I’ve seen a number of short posts on a variety of blogs today with a little picture of a flag and a reminder to think of our troops and our veterans. I’ve been wanting to scream that we don’t care about our veterans (or at least the politicians don’t). Cuts for the VA have been occurring at the same time that this country is at war. And while veterans make up 11% of our population, they are 40% of our homeless. Something doesn’t seem quite right there to me.

You’ve inspired me to try to be a more peaceful person in my own little life too. How can I say I hate war when I wage trivial little ones over absolutely nothing.

Kim Woodbridges last blog post..Using Controversy to Attract More Blog Comments – Does it Work?
Comment by Michael Panebianco on 11 November 2008:

Tim,

I don’t know any sane argument for your points.

If more of our leaders read Sun Tzu, I believe we would have much less fighting, a lot more diplomacy, and our brave men and women would be here for the upcoming holidays.

My ire is raised when we send these brave and honorable men and women into harms way, then quit when CNN doesnt like it anymore. Even more infuriating is sending them over there with no plan to win. It took 4 years for a strategy to promote peace over there to unfold. Most CEOs (outside the banking and insurance industries) would be looking for work with a record like that. Unfortunately, with Government we get mediocrity or worse at every turn.

Spot on, War is never a win, it just shows that your strategy sucked!
Comment by Dave Fowler on 11 November 2008:

Sometimes you have to fight. Most of the time you don’t.

I have been a police lion lead by police donkeys (most though not all of them were donkeys).

This is a nice tribute Tim and well balanced too.
Comment by Laurie on 11 November 2008:

I respect the volunteers of the military. They should be honored whenever possible. When you see one out in public, thank them for their sacrifice, pay for their meal, purchase their movie ticket. They deserve so much more. Thanks Tim for recognizing them on this Memorial day (wink wink) even though you don’t like their job description.
Comment by Zach on 11 November 2008:

Wow, another shot at Hitler. Brilliant, just brilliant. You are SOOO original.

You know what, Hitler may not have been perfect but he had his good points and I am getting so sick of people hating him just because it’s the popular thing to do right now. People loved him when he was alive, and there are some good reasons for that.

Some of us remain true. Some of us stand up for our beliefs, even today when they are no longer popular. Some of us aren’t afraid to not follow the herd.

I dare you to publish this comment.
Comment by Tim Brownson on 11 November 2008:

@ Pentad – I guess some politicians would think a lot longer and harder if it were them going into war. Now there’s an idea, make them lead everybody into battle and see who volunteers first.

@ Kim – It’s disgraceful how some Vets get treated. The hypocrisy if nauseating to me. Go and fight for our cause, but don’t get PTSD or any form of chronic injury cuz we’re not going to want to know.

@ Michael – I’m more with you on the lack of a plan. That seems so obvious to me. IMHO CNN only have the power that the public give them, same as Fox or any TV network for that matter.

@ Dave – I thought you were dead mate! According to my friend who’s the Sarg in Derbyshire, they yearn to have some donkeys take over ;-)

@ Laurie – Well let’s not get carried away. Say thanks and all that, but I’m not sure I want to be buying meals for every servicemen I meet. I had several members of my family in the military and I’d be bankrupt by now.

@ Zach – I always welcome different opinions, although I was almost tempted to make an exception with yours. However, as somebody that thinks everybody is entitled to an opinion I’ll let yours stand, even if I personally think it’s sad and disgusting.

Interesting that you talk about sheep and then defend the man that led an entire country of not just sheep, but sleep-walking sheep into war. Then you defend your rather crap argument by saying many loved him. Why would you care what others think? You’re not a follower Zach, you’re a man that plows his own furrow.

One final thing and I’ll let you get back to your own particular herd. You may have to refresh me on my history, but when exactly was genocide and ethnic cleansing considered popular?
Comment by Michael Panebianco on 12 November 2008:

@Tim I agree that the news outlets only have the power we give them, but the majority of people take news at face value. Watching this election on any channel will lay bare the lack of integrity in reporting that exists on all of the channels. I listen to BBC much of the time when I need to be reminded of “reporting”. It is extremely hard to find unbiased news anywhere here.

@Pentad, wouldnt it be grand if before any conflict began between nations that the leaders would have to put on the gloves and get in the ring! I agree that we’d have a lot less fighting if people making the decisions knew what a real battlefield looked, smelled, and sounded like. Ugly stuff.

The lack of coloring outside the box in foreign relations has led us to where we are. Strategy by television-proxy and polling, lack of deep, well thought out plans, lack of flexibility, and no understanding of the will of the American people (good or bad) is the downfall of all of these conflicts.

Everyone loves a winner. Nobody seems to want to do the fighting. Personally, I’d prefer to win at the negotiating table. I have survived all of my fights, yet even the ones I got the better hand in I never felt like a winner. The military should always be our “big stick”, never a walking cane for a blind man.
Comment by Tim Justynski on 12 November 2008:

Wow! Another great article. They keep getting better. Being a former Soldier myself, I have to say you are right on the money. I have been led by Donkeys. Not by my direct supervisors, but maybe 3 or 4 layers up from there. I have nothing against the “Brass” of the military, but if the Military was led by the Enlisted, things would be much different.

I think this country has seen enough of the wars! And I think that our election last week proved it. Oh and a quick THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to all of my fellow vets!

Tim Justynskis last blog post..Ch Ch Ch Changes!
Comment by Cath Lawson on 12 November 2008:

Tim – I couldn’t agree more. Intelligent folk know that violence doesn’t solve problems. So what do the wars really say about these folk who run our countries, if they can’t come up with a better solution?

I really believe that if politicians want to send troops to war, they should be forced to go out on the front line with them.
Comment by Tim Brownson on 12 November 2008:

@ Tim – Thanks for the feedback and sorry to hear things don’t change that much! Hopefully as you say, they will now.

@ Cath – I have an image of Kenneth Branagh in Henry V on his horse, but instead it’s Tony Blair leading the British forces into Baghdad. Not sure where it came from, maybe I need a lie down.
Comment by Dave Fowler on 12 November 2008:

Thought I was dead? I was only playing possum. Your mistake was you didn’t take my pulse. You’d never make a hitman.

I see your guests have gone upmarket since I was last here.
Comment by Tim Brownson on 12 November 2008:

@ Dave – It’s because you weren’t here they have gone upmarket.

And you never had a pulse to begin with. We all know you’re an android Fowler, or should I say T165?
Comment by Evan on 13 November 2008:

Zach’s right in one way Tim. People did like him when he was alive. It is worth thinking about this. Politicians in both the US and Australia (where I’m from) advocated a treaty against Churchill’s inclinations. And Churchill turned down Bonhoeffer’s offer of a group of German’s taking over from Hitler. No one comes out of war with their ethics in tact.

I think all modern warfare it immoral – it involves targeting civilians.

I know of no modern war that has achieved its professed aims. Can anyone name one?

I too admire the courage of the service people who serve, and a great measure of disgust and contempt for politicians.

Evans last blog post..Blogs With Great Content and That Make a Contribution
Comment by Doug on 13 November 2008:

Excellent post, Tim.

I’m with ya. I think another part of that old discomfort zone is to rethink the things we take for granted. That we’re always already in the right even before the shooting starts, and nothing’s going to change our minds. We don’t want to think we may be wrong, but of course we all too often are.

A great film on WWI, Joyeux Noel (2005), tells the true story of a spontaneous Christmas truce that occurred in the trenches between the Germans, the British and the French back in 1914. Many lessons learned from the movie (and from the war itself). One of the most obvious is how each side thought they were in the right, that their god was on their side alone, that they were “the good guys”. Which makes me think we need to do a lot more than just walk in each other’s shoes. We actually need to think about the beliefs and values of the other person in relative terms to the whole of humanity. We have to find a way not to demonize the other every single chance we get.

All in all, I’d say your percentage is about right. 95% of the wars waged in the world never had to be fought. Lions led into slaughter by donkeys. Rarely to ensure peace and tranquility, and all too often for the immense profit of those who sit on the sidelines. Our soldiers deserve better. We should always ensure that the mission they take on is always worthy of their sacrifice.

Dougs last blog post..ESPN.com has launched many new widgets that offer scores, stats, and news
Comment by Tim Brownson on 13 November 2008:

@ Evan – I have no doubt Hitler was revered by a great many people in Europe and scary though it seems, not just Germany and Austria either. That’s why I said I think they were sleep walking. He built up such a sense of nationalism that it provoked a mass trance state that masekd the reality of the situation.

If we look at Hitlers popularity as you seem to be suggesting, to learn from it, that’s all well and good, but the guy that posted here isn’t ready to learn anything imho.

@ Doug – Exactly Doug, it all comes down to beliefs and values. Hmm, where have I heard that before? ;-)
Comment by Doug on 13 November 2008:

Tim,

I was just trying to stay with the program, ya know?

:>)
Comment by Melissa on 13 November 2008:

Zach must have really been upset if he didn’t come back to defend himself. You know you’ve really offended someone if they don’t defend themselves. Good for him, he’s got better things to do than argue with us.

*reading over that it sounds weird to me…*

Melissas last blog post..Inspiration and Purpose
Comment by Rob on 13 November 2008:

I enjoyed reading your article. For some particular reason (not quite clear to me just yet) Rememberance Day (November 11 in Canada) had my attention and focus this year.

I would like to share a particularly moving song and video that I came across. It’s called a Pittance of Time and you can watch it at http://tinyurl.com/5ruqgb.

Rob

Robs last blog post..Let’s go Coach shopping!