A Peace of Their Mind

Just finished watching one of those current events chat shows wherein some German whined - as per usual - about how much more "advanced" Europeans are over the crazed cowboys here in the USA.

He said, at one point, that after WW2 Germany and Europe had "learned" the value of peace, diplomacy, etc. And this is why they stayed out of Iraq and Afghanistan, he claimed.

Oh really?

If a man who's spent several days repeatedly punching himself in the face finally decides - after two black eyes, a broken nose, half his teeth knocked out and serial concussions - to stop punching himself in the face, is this a moral epiphany or merely a belated survival response?

The post-WW2 Great European Age of Peace came about because the Europeans, after wrecking themselves in back-to-back wars, were too depleted and exhausted to have another go.

There is also the little fact that two extra-European powers jumped in and pretty much took over the entire European polity - USA from the West, USSR from the East. From 1945-1989, Europe's destiny was wholly in the hands of foreign masters in Moscow and Wash DC, respectively. During this period it didn't really matter WHAT the Europeans wanted.

Europe spent this period serving three uses:

1) Strategic buffer between the American and Soviet Empires (with Germany itself being the actual 50 yard line).

2) Junior member in economic and financial partnerships with whichever foreign master a particular European country had fallen under.

3) Social laboratory for the respective American and Soviet systems to rebuild in their respective images to see which side could create a more prosperous postwar order - no points for guessing who won that contest!

Needless to say, this extended period of servitude has mind-warped Europe something fierce, to the point where many of them are consumed with opposing America before all other goals - incl winning the war on Jihadism.

Some Europeans remind me of teenagers who want to take dangerous and stupid risks just because Daddy America says not to.

They also love the false bravado that comes from ostentatiously "standing up" to the USA, safe in the knowledge that we're not going to do anything more than roll our collective eyes regardless of what they say about our President or country.

So you'll understand if I am less than dazzled by their moral enlightenment.

Oh, one more thing about "peace":

Choosing nonviolence is only morally admirable if violence is a viable option to begin with. If the smallest, weakest kid on the playground solemnly declares, "I will not be a bully," it doesn't mean a goddamned thing.

Show me the big, strong kid who sincerely thinks it's wrong to push his classmates around - NOW we've got something meaningful; now we're talking about conscience and ethics.

The simple fact is that most of the nations who loudly and pompously proclaimed they wouldn't help the USA in knocking over Saddam or the Taliban were in no position to help anyway, even had they been spoiling for a fight.

When countries whose ability to project serious military force is pretty much ZERO tell us they won't fight with us - does that really mean anything, or is it just empty posturing?

Yeah, the Europeans "choose" not to fight - just like sheep "choose" not to attack wolves.

"Peace," my ass. On the other hand, why let them have all the fun?

Here's my contribution to "Peace:" I will not walk into the nearest biker bar and loudly announce Only assholes ride motorcycles!

Not because I'd be beaten into the ground, but... you know, for "Peace."