Friday, October 24, 2008

ENOUGH ALREADY!

WAR IS HELL!!!!!!
In its basic form, it is the decision that my life is worth more than yours.
But we only denounce it when it takes a physically repulsive appearance that creates horror within us!
Like the Romans in the Coliseum, we applaud it when it isn’t bothersome to our conscience!
Our Coliseum is now in the mind. Every day we wage war in the boardroom –
IN THE CLASSROOM!
“MY THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ARE BETTER AND MORE VALUABLE THAN YOURS AND SO YOURS MUST
DIE!!!!!”
We hold no tolerance for the avenues of the mind that do not flow like ours. We take sides, just as in war, and we take no prisoners! Our weapons are no longer swords and spears of metal. OUR WEAPON OF CHOICE IS TONGUES! We throw spears and darts and

PUSH SIMPLE LITTLE BUTTONS

WITH LANGUAGE DARTS LIKE:
NAÏVE
SIMPLE
UNEDUCATED
FOOLISH
RACIST
BIGOT
FAGGOT
LIBERAL
CONSERVATIVE

And we care not for the maiming which occurs within the mind of our foe because, on the outside, our foe’s voice has been silenced
BY THE WAR WITHIN US!!!!
Animals maim and grotesquely destroy every day simply to survive, this isn't war - it is life.
We bring LANGUAGE into the fray.
WAR ISN'T OF US, WAR IS US!

I’M TIRED OF WAR

I’M TIRED OF GOING INTO BATTLE EVERY DAY

I’M TIRED OF BEING TOLD MY LIFE IS WORTH LESS BECAUSE MY WORDS ARE DEEMED LESS

I’M TIRED OF FOES MAKING WAR ON ME IN A PLACE WHERE I COME TO LEARN PEACE

I’M TIRED…….

2 comments:

Scott Abbott said...

Strong stuff you've written here. As was today's class. While Alex pushed us to feel the tensions the DADAs felt during the world war, and while tensions grew in class as we each responded in our own way to what was simultaneously a performance and a personal catharsis, you responded both fiercely and graciously (how you accomplished both was some kind of miracle). Your leaving the classroom because of the tension was a low point and also a high point. Words matter. So thank you for your words in class and again for your words on our blog.

Ben said...

"WAR ISN'T OF US, WAR IS US!"

No, it isn't. Which was the point I and others were making.

The claim that modern mass mechanical murder is justified because (some relatively few) human beings have always been willing to kill other human beings is a specious one, and deserved response - particularly so in an academic setting.

I'm truly sorry that you were upset by the discussion and felt the need to leave, but the dismay and disapprobation focused on the ideas, and not the person speaking them. It was only a violent exchange if you feel that any disagreement of ideas is violent.