War

When will we learn?

While the cameras have already focused on Oscars and may be Eastwood again for his ‘Letters from IWOJIMA’ we should ponder.

The film was a back to back release with Flags of our Fathers , the war between US and Japan at Iwojima in 1945. The viewpoint and the gains differed. Where America ,in spite of the initial setback , turned it to political advantage and changing public opinion, Japan made it a issue of national pride , and fought till death.

One cannot stop thinking about WAR even while watching , this man created phenomenon or (process!! ).
No doubt the history is replete with wars and more wars and more….. ,but this is no reason not to condemn it, especially when Mr. Bush was bothered about Iran after making a mess of Iraq.

National pride and patriotism were the jingoism used to initiate and propagate wars till few decades back. It was as false as the pride of the rulers, but masses caught up in frenzy would support the Governments.
The ambition of few was garbed in emotionally stirring words and armies pushed to combat often to die..
Post WW2 , scenario changed . The heavy industrialization of Arms industry has produced excess of weapons not withstanding nuclear and other WMD.
Where do these weapons go? The philosophy of consumer market comes handy
Create a need and then sell.

But then the world is global and open

People are wiser , in the world of open information and globalized business , money rules so no one is too bothered with national pride.

Another image is created ---National Security . Same forces which were used to turn a false bipolar world image (used for arms race) to unipolar world , were used to create a threat for oneself.
The fear instilled in public by a clever use of visual media almost to a paranoid intensity justified invasions.
History is cruel in exposing ,even if written in a partisan way

The modern repetition of history has similar undercurrent of vain ambition and greed. Else there is more need to liberate Africa then Iraq and Iran . But this episode is about Oil and Africa still does not have it.
So non English speaking countries with Oil ,beware!
You are a threat.
Or who knows the truth , whether the mother of all conflicts Israel-Palestine is spilling over..


Now the bigger question --- The power lust in politician is eternal but what about the people?
Are the peace makers impotent or false? Why don’t people see the futility of war and the destruction?
May be we don’t feel the heat till it burns us , but then someday it will be me.

If words fail to change ,let the images and films change them.

Please do think because only when each one of us will throw the war out of our head , will true peace come.



Dr Alok Bajpai

Psychiatrist

PS --With Mr Obama having the Peace prize... it may change !!!