Warning: Long-winded rant ahead

Well here I am again. It’s way passed when I should be in bed. My fever is undoubtedly at least at 106 by now. But I can’t sleep. And, so, since I’m so philosophic, I need to write.

Tonight we watched a news program about ABC anchor Bob Woodward, who was reporting in Iraq when his Humvee was blown up. It nearly killed him. The descriptions of his condition were amazing. They literally removed nearly half of his skull so that his brain could have the room it needed to swell and repair itself again. Miraculously, he’s walking, talking, smiling, and loving life. Now, of course, he has found his life’s mission: be a voice for the so many soldiers who have come back home with brain injuries.

As you might have guessed, my rant tonight focuses on the costs of war. I like to look at things in an economic perspective sometimes. Americans understand economics, right? Err, maybe not. Americans understand that if you don’t have the money for something, you don’t buy it. Hmm, wrong again I’m afraid. Well I think they do understand this: if you stop paying your mortgage, you’ll eventually be foreclosed. If you don’t pay your car loan, you no longer have a car. If you don’t pay your 55% loan from Quickie Kash or wherever, Tony Soprano himself will probably hunt you down and break your kneecaps. Those things are just reality.

I believe that everything and everyone has their price. I know, a highly immoral thing to say, but we are humans afterall. Let’s take my current situation. We just moved up here to Utah. Saturday we went out looking at some homes. Some very beautiful, big, expensive homes. Do I think it’s the “right thing to do” to buy one? Do I think that we will be blessed by buying one? I don’t know. But I know that the Lord blesses you when you follow him. I also know that the cost of the homes is just too high, no matter how “right” they might feel when we’re standing in them.

So it is, I believe with the current situation in Iraq. Many leaders boldly proclaim that we will pay any price, bear any burden, blah blah blah. It’s a bunch of nonsense. The cost (price) has become too high. The human cost, the emotional, physical, psychological, and, of course, economic costs are too great. Is the mission noble? Absolutely. The people that are sent there are incredible people who never get the appreciation, respect, and gratitude that they deserve. It’s almost like the whole situation over there has become the 900lb gorilla in the room that no one wants to acknowledge. If you look at pure dollars that are being spent, it’s absurd.

Back in the states here we are literally being invaded by those from other countries seeking “better lives.” While I can sympathize with their plights, I have no compassion for their lawlessness. The drain on local and national economies, health care systems, school systems, and everything else, is just too great. There are those that will claim that “the white man” did the same thing when the colonized the west. Well, maybe you’re right. If that’s the case, go see if you can find someone that will sell you back the Louisiana territory for 4 cents an acre or whatever it was. Go build up an army and at least be up front about what you’re doing: invading this country. Until you do those things, just shut up and realize you broke the law.

I heard a story tonight about a guy in Dallas who goes down to the airport every single day to welcome any troops who might be coming home that day. He and some friends have pompoms, cookies, and all sorts of other stuff. I admire people like that. I admire the people he’s welcoming home. But I think that enough’s enough. The cost is too great. The US Government has foreclosed on itself millions of times (figuratively, of course). Now today (and tomorrow in the east) we’ve seen the beginning of a long overdue correction in the equity markets. The data is a little scary. No, I don’t have tin foil on my head, but I am a realist. And I think it’s high time that resources stop flowing overseas and stay here at home.

I’m sure that many will disagree with me. That’s fine. I welcome it. I think that civil discourse and discussion is something that unfortunately has been lost in the current world scene. It’s turned into more of something I might catch my 2 year-old saying: I got the pink cup, you got the green, nanner nanner. I think most of government is a bunch of pansies that have interest groups so far in their pockets they don’t know which way is up.

Perhaps some will look at current world events and relate them to biblical prophecy or whatever. If you think Providence has a hand in things (as I do), then let Providence have a hand in things. Just because the United States is playing a certain role in the middle east does not mean that that is what Providence would have done. What does it say in Daniel? Something about a stone rolling down the mountain and it can’t be stopped? Well guess what? Even the United States can’t build something big and bad enough to blow that stone up. And, if you don’t think that Providence plays a role, then you’ll probably agree with me anyway.

So what do I do from here? I have no idea, really. But I think it was therapeutic for me to write this, and now I’m able to go to bed.