Ramblings

Over one hundred thousand non-combatants and a magnificent city destroyed by bombs dropped wide of the stated objectives: the railroads were knocked out for roughly two days. The Germans counted it the greatest loss of life suffered in any single raid. The death of Dresden was a bitter tragedy, needlessly and willfully executed. The killing of children--"Jerry" children or "Jap" children, or whatever enemies the future may hold for us--can never be justified.

The facile reply to great groans such as mine is the most hateful of all cliches, "fortunes of war," and another, "They asked for it. All they understand is force." Who asked for it? The only thing who understands is force? Believe me, it is not easy to rationalize the stamping out of vineyards where the grapes of wrath are stored when gathering up babies in bushels or helping a man dig where he thinks his wife may be buried. Certainly enemy military and industrial installations should have been blown flat, and woe unto those foolish enough to seek shelter near them. But the "Get Tough America" policy, the spirit of revenge, the approbation of all destruction and killing, has earned us a name for obscene brutality, and cost the World the possibility of Germany's becoming a peaceful and intellectually fruitful nation in anything but the most remote future.

Our leaders had a carte blanche as to what they might or might not destroy. Their mission was to win the war as quickly as possible, and, while they were admirably trained to do just that, their decisions as to the fate of certain priceless World heirlooms--in one case Dresden--were not always judicious. When, late in the war, with the Wehrmacht breaking up on all fronts, our planes were sent to destroy this last major city, I doubt if the quesiton was asked, "How will this tragedy benefit us, and how will that benefit compare with the ill-effects in the long run?" Dresden, a beautiful city, built in the art spirit, symbol of an admirable heritage, so anti-Nazi that Hitler visited it but twice during his whole reign, food and hospital center so bitterly needed now--plowed under and salt strewn in the furrows.

There can be no doubt that the Allies fought on the side of the right and the Germans and Japanese on the side of wrong. World War II was fought for near-Holy motives. But I stand convinced that the brand of justice in which we dealt, wholesale bombings of civilian populations, was blasphemous.

K.V

Sometimes it comes together

Everything has been completely stringing and adding up very nicely lately.
My bad days end up being pretty bright at the end, my good days are clear and consistent. School is over this week and I couldn't BE more stoked. My apartment is amazing, my job is relatively stable (it could improve, but I refuse to let this dampen my positive mood at the moment), I am extremely blessed with the most caring, generous, kind-hearted family anyone could ask for, and Whole Foods brought back my favorite yogurt.

I couldn't ask for anything more.

Moving, packing, cleaning, reverse

It's been a while but I have a little time, so I'll update. School is almost out for the semester and in the Fall I'll be starting my major courses. If all goes well, I should be graduating the Fall of 2010. I'm on the five year college track, apparently. Well, I did drop out for a year so maybe just four.

Who cares.

I'm moving this weekend, approximately four blocks from my old apartment. If I get some pictures I will post them. I LOVE this apartment. As soon as I walked into it I knew this was where I was going to stay for a long time. So much better: no crack head neighbors, no more looking at a wall every time I go home. Other things.
I really don't have anything to say. Moving, school, papers, projects, work...that's about it.