The Muck Starts Here: Choice words from choice American leaders

By Barry Hastings

Whatever order we have on earth and in our (ever-expanding universe) is due to the laws of physics and chemistry. The massive disorder in our world (and near-space) is distinctly caused by mankind himself, and by the greedy, nay-saying institutions (religion and government) we’ve created in our general craving to impose order “on demand.” (Good luck with that effort.)

In 1957, Russia’s Sputnik I was the only piece of man-made junk in space. Today, we have more than 2,300 chunks of junk, from very small to very large, orbiting in slowly sinking trajectories. All are bound, sooner or later, for planet earth. Yes, every thing in earth-orbit will eventually come home to roost, like giant, flaming chickens.

There’s no telling where it will land, or, for that matter, what hazards they’ll bring back to earth. Since the stuff is being shot into orbit at an ever-increasing rate, within a few years walking around outdoors could become akin to walking upright in front of the target pits on a rifle range. (In the cities it’s already happening, but from quickly increasing social discontent, rather than falling junk.)

Well, space junk and the ignorant religious are not my target this time around (though I’ll likely throw a couple of jabs). Instead, I hope to show you what some of America’s finest military commanders (and perhaps some of the worst) have thought about things our government has asked them to do since 1775, and what some have done on their own. I warn you, your illusions may be shattered.

I’m going to start with a man you most likely never heard of, USMC general Smedley Butler. The General, under orders from our government, did a lot of heavy lifting for American business interests, all over the Globe, while at the same time blackening our national reputation. He died in 1940; was born in 1881. I’ve decided to let the general speak for himself, as I’ll do a bit further on with General U.S. Grant, perhaps others. My comments will be in parentheses, Butler’s, and the others, in quotation marks.

“I spent 33 years in the Marines. Most of my time being a high-class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism.”

“I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking-house of Brown Bro

thers in 1909-1912. I helped make Mexico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenue. I helped in the rape of half-a-dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street.”

“In China in 1927, I helped see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested… I had a swell racket. I was rewarded with honors, medals, promotions… I might have given Al Capone a few hints – the best he could do was operate a racket in three city districts. The Marines operated on three continents.”

(Writing about the American Legion, he became hotter-under-the-collar.) “You know very well the American Legion is nothing but a strike-breaking outfit and used by capital for that purpose. That is the reason I pulled out of it. They’ve been using the dumb soldie

rs to break strikes.” (This happened often between World War I and World War II, though not visibly any longer. The Legion is, however, still uniformly right-wing, politically)

“War, like any other racket, pays high dividends to the very few. But what does it profit the masses? The cost of operations is always transferred to the people, who do not profit.”

Thus spake Smedley Butler, commandant, USMC.

(Many people have, no doubt, told you Grant left the Army after the Mexican War because he was an alcoholic. Here’s what General/President Grant had to say on the matter, shortly before he died in 1885.)

“I do not think there ever was a more wicked war than that waged by the United States in Mexico. I thought so at the time, when I was a youngster (meaning ‘yo

ung officer’), only I had not moral courage enough to resign. It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire territory.” (He also added,) “I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.”

Speaking to the American Civil War, and Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House, Grant wrote), “I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, though for a cause that was, I believe, one of the worst for which a people ever fought.”

And of the American people, he added, “Whatever there is of greatness in the the United States, or indeed in any other country, is due to labor. The laborer is the author of all greatness and wealth. Without it there would be no government, no leading class, and nothing to preserve.

So saith Ulysses S. Grant (The traitor, R.E. Lee, wouldn’t have made a small pimple on Grant’s butt.)

And now for some few words from General and GOP President Dwight Eisenhower.

“Only a fool would try to deprive working men and women of the right to join the union of their choice.”

“Without exhaustive debate, even heated debate, of ideas and programs, free government would weaken and wither. But if we allow ourselves to be persuaded that every individual or party that takes issue with our own convictions is necessarily wicked or treacherous, then, indeed, we are approaching the end of freedom’s road.”

And here’s a concluding line from George Washington, The Father of our nation:

“Our cause is noble, it is the cause of all mankind! And the danger to it… is to be apprehended from ourselves.”

Sleep on it.