Mad Wars
"Mad Wars Destroy in One Year the Works of Many Years of Peace."
by
Linda
Schrock Taylor
by Linda Schrock Taylor
I have always
liked to ponder folk wisdom, proverbs, and rules-of-thumb. I have
several books containing collections and recently, as I was reading
through Brockhampton's Dictionary
of Proverbs, I found myself assessing President Bush,
his decisions, and his unconstitutional wars in respect to dozens
of proverbs, especially those grouped under the topic, "Power and
Conflict." Again and again I found myself thinking, "If only Bush
would read and adhere to wisdom such as this…"
I have come
to the conclusion that Bush's greatest flaw is his failure to understand
and live by the most basic and enduring folk wisdom of the Ages.
Bush not only fails to observe and abide by these insights and guideposts,
he consistently thinks and acts in ways that are quite contrary
to logic and intelligence. He also fails to consider the sensitivities
and the preferences of the people he is supposed to
represent and protect.
Then, lacking
wisdom and common sense; void of a philosophy of life based upon
ethics, honesty and humility; our president 'flips the bird' and
swears at citizens from the safety of his muddied tower.
Consider these
"Power and Conflict" proverbs and imagine how our lives would be
so different under the leadership of one who understood then lived
by such simple, but powerful, ideas:
- A certain
peace is to be preferred to an expected victory.
- A good prince
does not cut out freedom's tongue.
- A tyrant's
breath is another's death.
- A war, even
when most victorious, is a national misfortune.
- An ill man
in office is a mischief to the public.
- An oppressive
government is more to be feared than a tiger.
- Argument
seldom convinces anyone against their inclination.
- Better a
lean peace than a fat victory.
- Black ambition
stains a public cause.
- Bribes will
enter without knocking.
- By wisdom
peace, by peace plenty.
- Cursed is
he that doth his office craftily, corruptly or maliciously.
- From prudence
peace, from peace abundance.
- Give me
liberty or give me death.
- Good fences
make good neighbours. (As do protected borders. LST)
- He that
is hated by his subjects cannot be king.
- He who cannot
command himself, it is folly to think to command others.
- If peace
cannot be maintained with honour it is no longer peace.
- In a false
quarrel there is no true valour.
- In time
of war the devil makes more room in hell.
- In war reputation
is strength.
- It is a
bad war from which no one returns.
- It is the
raised stick makes the dog obey.
- Office tests
the man.
- One peace
is better than ten victories.
- One volunteer
is worth two pressed men.
- Oppression
causes rebellion.
- Our master
is our enemy.
- Peace flourishes
when reason rules.
- Peace with
a cudgel in hand is war.
- Peace without
truth is poison.
- Set thine
house in order.
- Talk of
the war but do not go to it.
- The best
government is that which governs least.
- The hearts
of the people are the only legitimate foundations of empire.
- The world
without peace is the soldier's pay.
- There are
no miracles in politics.
- There is
no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder.
- They that
buy an office must sell something.
- To preserve
friendship one must build walls. (And guard borders! LST)
- Tyranny
is far the worse treason.
- War is a
proceeding that ruins those who succeed.
- War makes
robbers and peace hangs them.
- When war
is raging the laws are dumb.
- Where money
and counsel are wanting it is better not to make war.
- Who fills
an office must learn to bear reproach and blame.
- Who shall
keep the keepers?
Presidents
dream of leaving a legacy for which they will long be remembered,
and Bush will certainly fulfill such a dream.
William Shakespeare
said, "No legacy is so rich as honesty."
Bush will be
remembered for WMDs and dishonesty – making
his legacy anything but "rich." (Considering the familial
flaw, he will come by this legacy naturally. Read my lips…)
President Bush
had his chance. He had the support of millions of Americans, but
Woe be to him whose advocate becomes his accuser.
Lastly…When
God means to punish a nation He deprives its rulers of wisdom.
 August
29, 2005
Linda
Schrock Taylor [send
her mail] is an educational
consultant, homeschooling mom, and public school special ed teacher.
She is available for presentations, inservices, and workshops.
Copyright
© 2005 LewRockwell.com
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Schrock Taylor Archives
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