I’m a few days late for Veteran’s Day, when many people were thanking our vets. At it’s heart it’s entirely right to thank our vets; they do a tough job, and we need them. Their dedication to protect us civilians is commendable, but I always feel a tug of hesitation when it comes to pouring out my gratitude to them. The reason is that our gratitude should be matched by our efforts to protect them from harm until it’s absolutely necessary. I don’t think we’ve succeeded at our part, and that is what gives me pause. We shouldn’t only be thanking them; we should be apologizing to them.

We sent them to Afghanistan and Iraq. The war in Iraq won nothing for the US. The war in Afghanistan will also win us nothing. The Taliban will continue to hate us. Al Qaida will continue to plot. The myriad of other Anti-American organizations that have sprung up because of our adventures in the Middle East may, or may not, plot against us as well. So terrorism has certainly not been quashed, and the Taliban will stay out of power for only as long as our finger is in the dike. Guns and coercion can pretend to ideological aims, but they can never achieve them. Still we arm our children and send them over there assuming they are doing a noble job when they are actually doing an ignoble job nobly. It’s bad enough that we ask them to apply their blind loyalty to the whims of American hawks, but we make it worse by romanticizing their sacrifice. So I take a pass on thanking a vet without qualification, or on forwarding such messages through social media. Not because thanks isn’t deserved, but because attached to the thanks are some presumptions that are blatantly false.

Falsehood #1: Fallen soldiers are “heroes.” They might sometimes be, if they died to save a comrade or a civilian. But if he was driving down a road and an IED exploded and metal tore him to shreds, he’s not a hero, he’s just another victim. It’s meaningless violence committed against a soldier in a foreign land sent there for reasons that were long ago proven invalid. Am I to thank him for his sacrifice? No, because that presumes he was a sacrifice. A sacrifice implies that something has been gained.

I believe that if Americans examine their own motivations, we will admit that we call fallen soldiers “heroes” and overstate the nobility of the mission because it is too difficult to admit that one of our own died for frivolous reasons. We cannot bear the notion that an American son or daughter died because of a ruse we play with ourselves, so we dive headlong into the ruse, and threaten anyone who disagrees with us with a punch in the nose, or public disgrace and dishonor. The mechanism grows organically in a society. People throughout time have been taught, generation after generation, that it’s is an honor to go fight for your country. The meme goes as far back as ancient Greece, when Horace wrote “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,” which translates to “It is sweet and right to die for your fatherland.” “Pro patria mori” strikes a deep emotional chord with Americans, but also with the sons of Al Qaida chiefs so the sentiment does not set us apart. That deep emotion is not proof that our country is great. It does not justify sending our sons into a meaningless war.

Falsehood #2: The soldiers in Afghanistan are “fighting for our freedom.” That’s just not true, not even slightly. And given the enormity of the cost we pay for that statement, you’d think people would stop saying it. But they don’t. I hear it almost every day, and a hundred times on Veterans Day. Our freedoms are not intact because of the wars in the Middle East. If we called our soldiers back today, our freedoms would not be threatened in the least. Those who would seek to attack us in that event are already seeking to attack us now.

Let’s do the adult thing; let’s put the deaths of our servicemen into context. It’s an unpopular thing to do, but not doing so is foolish. We can attach a myriad of romantic, vainglorious attributes to a soldier’s death, but unless we examine it for what it is, we’re simply going to replicate what might be a terrible mistake. Did that young man or woman who died in Afghanistan really die for our freedom? If we had no soldiers in Afghanistan (or previously in Iraq), what freedom would have been sacrificed on the altar of pacifism? Eleven years after 9/11 we have not substantially eliminated the threat of terrorism in the United States. Indeed, more than one government group has stated that the threat of terrorism is more diverse and just as formidable today as it was in 2001. So what freedoms did that soldier die for? We have spent a trillion dollars and thousands of American lives for what? What has been gained? I am unable to account for a thing.

How powerful is this sentiment? In American politics, I suggest our adventures in the Middle East would have been over years ago if it had not been for the powerful lever of Pro patria mori that has been pulled by politicians who benefit by the war’s continuance. Pro patria mori. Our fatherland is so wonderful that we sent [checking today’s news] 26-year-old Matthew H. Stiltz to his death. Sgt. Stiltz would not have died if we had come to our senses years ago. But we didn’t. To vacate our mission in the middle east is to admit it was wrong to begin with. The parents of lost soldiers go bellicose at the thought, and insodoing pass their pain on to others.

There might be very practical reasons why the U.S. has a military presence in the Middle East. Those reasons probably have a lot more to do with the price of a gallon of gas, and a lot less to do with freedom. But those reasons don’t fit nicely into a sound bite, and aren’t as effective at recruiting the all-volunteer army we seem to need. (“Uncle Sam needs YOU to keep a gallon of gas under $5.) Moreover, there are probably ways to achieve the same goals that don’t involve blood. But, given the benefit achieved by a few industry warlords, and the political clout some politicians can gain by tickling American emotions, bloody conflict is the way we choose to meet those aims. And those scoundrels rely on the vast majority of us to stand and salute the honor of sending our sons and daughters to die for our freedom.

I’ll have no part of that lie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click Here to get it.
And get out there and vote!

As per my tradition, I’m posting what I see as the most “Christian” way to vote on November 6^th. By “Christian” I do not mean the status quo of popular Christian opinion, but how these provisions on the ballot stack up against Biblical teachings.

Prop 30  Tax Increase for Education: NO
We need to spend more money on education. In 2011, according to Education Week (http://www.edweek.org/media/ew/qc/2011/QualityCounts2011_PressRelease.pdf) California was 46^th in the nation in regard to K-12 achievement. Prop 30, however, does not guarantee that new revenue will go toward education. The proposed law is written in a way that makes it sound like the revenue will go toward schools, but doesn’t guarantee it. In my opinion, if the authors of this law were determined for this additional tax revenue to go toward education, they would have written those guarantees into the law. Those guarantees are not there. There is no clear Biblical directive on this proposition, except “Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay.” (Matthew 5:37) The Bible respects clarity in communication, and this prop doesn’t have it.

Prop 31 Two-Year Budget Cycle and budgetary restrictions: YES
The forces our government officials to be more transparent in how they are spending our money. It will help us hold our government accountable! Accountability is a Biblical principal that teaches us to have high expectations for each other. In a Democracy, since our government is representative, we’re holding each other accountable by holding our government accountable. This is a good law, and has seen no substantive financial opposition.

Prop 32 Ban on corporate and union contributions to state and local candidates: NO
This Proposition is not what it seems. It’s not intending to improve California policy because it exempts specific groups from following the restrictions. Even though some of those exceptions may be businesses we support, if it isn’t applied equally to all, it’s not a policy. It’s punitive. The Bible teaches us not to show partiality. James 2:1-5 says “My brothers, show no partiality …. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” This Proposition pays much more attention to one group over another. Vote no.

Prop 33 Car insurance rates: YES
This encourages competition and fairness, and prevents carriers from giving loyalty discounts as a way to dissuade customers from shopping elsewhere.

Prop 34 End the Death Penalty: YES
Matthew 12:7 says “If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.”  The Death Penalty may seem like a Biblical concept, and the Old Testament supports it. However, the “new covenant” indicates that God wants to show mercy on us, and we should likewise not be quick to condemn others. The Death Penalty prevents us from reversing a guilty verdict. And the death penalty is not always a clear-cut verdict. According to the Northwestern Univ. School of Law, at least 39 executions have been carried out in the U.S. in the face of evidence of innocence or serious doubt about guilt. We heap guilt upon ourselves when we support this policy.  Our state should reflect a merciful hand, just as Christians teach that God showed us his mercy by sending Jesus.

Prop 35 Increased Penalties for Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery: YES
There is no financial opposition to this bill. It increases the fines and sentencing for human trafficking, and allows more money into police training.

Prop 36 Modification of the “Three Strikes” Law: YES
California has a higher percentage of its population behind bars than any other state. It’s not the kind of state was want to be, and it’s expensive. This law will take some offenders out of prison who have been given Draconian sentences for non-violent crimes.

Prop 37 Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food: NO
Yet another deceptive and misleading proposition. It creates fear, and conveniently removes competition from the organic foods businessmen who are the bill’s chief supporters. Likewise, like Prop 32, it has many exempted groups written into the bill. This is not a cogent law, and should not be enacted.

Prop 38 Tax Increase for Education: YES
Unlike Prop 30, this bill is very well written, ensures the schools get the tax revenues (after some bills are paid!) and clearly and equitably gets its revenue from the entire state populace, not just the rich. Pro tip: Both Prop 38 and 30 cannot be enacted, since they contradict each other. Whichever bill has more “yes” votes is the one that will be enacted if both bills pass. If you prioritize money for schools over the poorly written Prop 30, you might still want to vote yes on BOTH, out of hope that at least one will pass.

Prop 39 Income Tax Increase for Multistate Businesses: YES
This bill closes a tax loophole that has cost California $1 billion per year in revenue. It isn’t fair and we need that money. Vote Yes.

Prop 40 Referendum on the State Senate Redistricting Plan: YES
This bill’s opposition has removed themselves. The bill should be passed as the State Supreme Court has intervened in the redistricting process and NOT an independent commission.

To read more about each bill, click below:

Proposition 30	Jerry Brown’s Tax Increase for Education
Proposition 31	Two-Year Budget Cycle
Proposition 32	Ban on corporate and union contributions to state and local candidates
Proposition 33	Car insurance rates can be based on a person’s history of insurance coverage (“persistency discounts”)
Proposition 34	“End the Death Penalty”
Proposition 35	Increased Penalties for Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery
Proposition 36	Modification of the “Three Strikes” Law
Proposition 37	Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food
Proposition 38	Molly Munger’s State Income Tax Increase for Education
Proposition 39	Income Tax Increase for Multistate Businesses
Proposition 40	Referendum on the State Senate Redistricting Plan

These pictures from Mars are causing a strange uneasiness in me. When I admire the shapes of the hilltops, carved by millions of years of indifferent winds, I realize that no human has ever admired those hills. A few hundred thousand years ago, the outline of their peaks looked much different. Their beauty was expressed in a different way, but no one ever saw them for all those epochs.

It dawned on me that I’ve been anthropomorphizing the mountains on earth. I perceive our mountains as big, slow-moving people who want nothing more than for the rest of us to look at them and admire the curve of their spine. People rarely do. But I do–all the time to be honest. I do it out of empathy for the mountains. I know what it’s like when people never notice your subtle differences—those things that make you entirely unique.

Perhaps another reason I admire the mountains is a throwback to my old religion. God placed the majestic mountains there to remind me how great he is. Right? Wrong. The mountains of Mars are no less majestic, and there is no one there to see.

But still, I look at the shape each mountain makes. I imagine how the rain falls and runs into its recesses, and forms rivulets and streams that run to the canyons below.  I admire the texture of flora that grows on its slopes. I also marvel at how after ten times the duration of my lifetime of howling winds and torrential rains, the subtle shapes formed by the mountain will be almost … exactly … the same.

This admiration of nature is my religion, in a way. After having eschewed a religion that proscribed more specific rites of veneration, I found myself unable and unwilling to do anything but stand before the almighty universe and open my mouth and feel amazed. The more I learned about science and my place in the universe, the easier this act of veneration became. It’s amazing  that the infinite expanse of hydrogen produced complex stars that produced planets, one of which produced life that became increasingly complex until it actually produced me. And, though temporary it may be, the fact that I’m able to stare back into the void and just say “Wow” is enough for me to find meaning in my own random existence. It transcends poetry. It transcends spirituality. It is nothing and it is everything, just for me to be alive and enjoy perceiving everything around me. It amazes me every day, and so this act has become my religion.

But those hills on Mars have never been beheld—until now. For millions of years, geologic forces have raised and lowered mountains without the slightest nod of approval. Even though I find such bliss in perceiving them, they never needed me, and I suspect they have never cared.

Maybe my unease is the knowledge that geologic time marches forward on Mars at the same rate that it does here on Earth. It’s humbling. No matter how good we get at finding meaning in our universe, the universe has ways of hiding it again.

I’m learning how much I hate it. I’m not very good at it.

I’m sending out about 1 e-mail per day to various websites, reviewers, etc. Soon I will send out press kits to the likes of Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, P.Z. Myers, etc. In the meantime, both my books are languishing at the bottom of the sales ladder with no attention, and a total of one review between both books. But, I wrote the books for me, mostly, and my dastardly plan is still unfolding.

Aside from that I’m working on my next project. Something a little less controversial and a little more marketable.

Both the E-book and paperback versions are up!

It’s almost three years exactly since I read the first page to my buddy Steve and my two kids at our campsite up in the mountains. Not a single word from that page made it into the final version, but the intent did. It took quite awhile for me to suss out what my intent was, but that’s all part of the process. I’ll now begin marketing in earnest.

In other news, “Songs of the Deconverted” is now in the bookstore at Exchristian.net .

 

Since one of the stories will be appearing in “EFiction” starting this Sunday, I figured I should get this ready, so I did.

It’s up on Amazon, and now I’m focusing on the final proofread of “Zealot,” which should be available within a few weeks.

Any and all reviews are welcome!

I’ve just heard from their editors, the short story will appear in their next issue, which goes on sale (Kindle) July 1st.

This is great news! EFiction is one of the largest online magazines.

No question about it, delays are merely excuses. So here are my excuse: my work is sending me to Korea. I’ll be there for a week, and while it will be very enjoyable to see a foreign country and learn more about my company, the timing could not have been worse for the release of my book. I would have needed that initial week to do my initial marketing push. So, I’m using the time to do yet another editing pass and a proofread.

“Zealot” should be published in Mid-June, and “Songs of the Deconverted” about a week after that.

나중에 봐!

It’s going through it’s final proofreads, but for the most part it is ready.

However, I don’t want to publish until my novel is also published. This book of short stories will be my primary tool for marketing the novel.

Another nice cover by Brian Sasville, though!