Extremely Displaced Pride vs Justifiable Shame and Regret ***

Coming across this past account makes me wonder; wonder why there are such big flaws in the world's system, big flaws in our reasoning to feel pride.  I feel no pride, only grief and shame for the damages done in past times, damages that continue up to this very moment.  We can always rely upon the media to give us the 'knockdown, dragout, titillating' headlines and stories.  War solves nothing.  It only causes provocation for more war - continual reasons to continue doing what is being done and always with the same results - death and destruction, fear and frugality, more suspicion of our fellowman.

When are we to awaken from the many long centuries of mistaken actions and realize that possibly - No! most likely - there is a better way to resolve all issues?  But peace doesn't feed the unsatiable greed of the oligarchs, does it? 
___________________________________________________

Fallujah Remembered By A US Marine

Who Helped Destroy It In 2004

By Ross Caputi

23 December, 2011

Stop the War Coalition

US Marine Ross Caputi reflects on Fallujah in Iraq, where he was deployed in the 2004 attack that killed thousands, displaced hundreds of thousands more and poisoned the city with chemical weapons

It has been seven years since the 2nd siege of Fallujah -- the American assault that left the city in ruins, killed thousands of civilians, and displaced hundreds-of-thousands more -- the assault that poisoned a generation, plaguing the people who live there with cancers and their children with birth defects.

It has been seven years and the lies that justified the assault still perpetuate false beliefs about what we did.

The American veterans who fought there still do not understand who they fought against, or what they were fighting for.

I know, because I am one of those American veterans. In the eyes of many of the people I "served" with, the people of Fallujah remain dehumanized and their resistance fighters are still believed to be terrorists. But unlike most of my counterparts, I understand that I was the aggressor, and that the resistance fighters in Fallujah were defending their city.