“Why We Fight” should probably be subtitled “Anti-War Lite”. Although there is a lot of good information presented, it is presented in such a way that most Americans will walk away with a big “Ho-hum, what else is new.”
To begin with, “Why We Fight” shows an excerpt from President Eisenhower’s farewell speech when he left the presidency in 1961. In this speech he warned the country of the “military-industrial complex” (which he had originally written as military-industrial-congressional complex). The show would have us believe this is a dangerous thing since one of our beloved presidents (we do remember who Eisenhower was, don’t we?) has warned us about it and as numerous clips in the film reinforce. But as an American tradition that is at least 50 years old – as old as the traditional use of the Pledge of Allegiance and the use of In God We Trust on our money – how can we possibly think it is a bad thing?
Then the movie shows how reluctant Americans were to enter World War II – 95% of the nation felt we should stay out – until Pearl Harbor. War inciting propaganda has been used to convince Americans to participate in every war we’ve fought, which certainly is enough justification for our current administration to use this powerful tool. Americans just don’t know what’s best of them, including who they should bomb and kill, until they’re told by the powers that be.
I found the “What can we do?” section especially amusing as it hinted that the power to rein in the military-industrial complex rested with congress. Congress can set different priorities. Right. Like that is ever going to happen as long as they’re lining their own pockets with contributions and ensuring their continued employment in Washington.
Why do we fight? The movie asks several modern Americans on the street and the answers range from the predictable “freedom”, “peace”, “liberty” to the more often “I dunno”. No one connects the dots that they have been manipulated into supporting this war and no one cares. And that’s why we fight!
I knew the pledge was a mid-century phenomenon (and I tell people so when they ask why I am standing with my hand over heart but not reciting), but when was "In God we trust" added to money? I was under the impression that one was older.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the U.S. Treasury department, we began putting "In God We Trust" on our coins in the 1860's and by 1938 all coins had that motto (our original motto being "e pluribus unum: out of many, one". We began putting the motto on paper money starting with the $1 in 1957 (during Eisenhower's term of office) and by 1966 all denominations were printed with those words.
ReplyDeleteThe Pledge was made official in 1942 with it's final wording which includes the phrase "under God" being added officially in 1954.
So roughly, both the pledge and the motto on our money date back to the same era as the term "military-industrial complex".
Here are some links that I believe will be interested
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