Prickly City by Scott Stantis for October 06, 2023

“War is stupid. . .”

Does that include the American Revolution? The American Civil War? World War II?

Wars are fought so that the next generation won’t have to fight in one.

A heli flopter!

I thought so too… when I was in middle school. Then, I grew up.

Igitur quī dēsīderat pācem, præparet bellum

(Therefore, let he who desires peace prepare for war)

Or, put in simpler terms, if you have nice things and wish to hang onto those nice things you had better be prepared to fight for those nice things, because somebody will try to take them from you

That sort of explains the Proud Boys – overgrown adolescents playing soldier dress-up.

There’s nothing “stupid” about wanting something and using violence to get it. It’s evil, not stupid.

Sometimes a war is caused entirely by one side.

I mean, he’s not wrong I… guess.

The generals sure think the more something costs the better it is. Trillion dollar fighter jets with nobody to dog fight with, put a smile on the brass’s lips because the generals think they are sexy! Of course they don’t pay any attention when $2000 drones are taking out million dollar tanks with ease in the Ukraine!

Matthew 24, Revelation 6

I’m guided by a signal in the heavens

I’m guided by this birthmark on my skin

I’m guided by the beauty of our weapons

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

— Leonard Cohen

It’s currently Fleet Week in San Francisco. I’m supportive in principle, but I don’t care for the Blue Angels; essentially a Blue Angels show seems to me like the equivalent of the Soviets parading nuclear missiles down the street, but with more sex appeal and showmanship.

(They’re also too loud.)