Dancing on the edge.

If you read any of my blogs you know I love everybody. If you don't read them, I love everybody. And more than anything I want everybody to stop the headlong race to human extinction before it is too late. I try to be the voice of reason in a world mad with anger, hate, envy, suspicion, greed, all of the noble human sentiments. It is an uncomfortable position, fortunately I don't take it very seriously, because people are going to be people, and if history has provided any clues, any path for the future, it looks bleak.

For example, memoirs and notes have revealed that the US may have been willing to drop atomic bombs to support the French soldiers who were trapped in an ever tightening siege at Dien Bien Phu.

There is not enough space here to detail the horrors of the French occupation of Indochina, nor is there room to describe the terrible, rapidly deteriorating conditions facing the French soldiers trapped in the tiny valley. If you are interested in the battle you should read "Hell in a Very Small Place" by Bernard Fall, it is a gripping story of the plans and the failures, of the French command. In fairness they could never know the terrible weather that would deny them air support, and it is almost inconceivable the dedication and indescribable labor of the Vietnamese army.

But, the fact that the US had even considered unleashing the awesome destruction of atomic weaponry to support a failing Imperial power stuck in a battle in a tiny jungle covered valley on the
other side of the world should terrify us all.

France was going to lose Vietnam, imperial powers were falling everywhere, and history has proven that Vietnam is impossible to occupy. Even then it was widely known that Ho Chi Minh was a communist of convenience, he was a nationalist who only wanted to expel the foreigners. And yet, to prop up a failing regime, in a distant country, with nothing to gain the US was contemplating atomic weaponry.

Part of it was the loss of China, and the deadly slog in Korea, sure. But a lot it was the feeling that World War II had changed everything. No longer, it was assumed, could the US let things happen, we had to influence things to end on our terms.

After the war ended the US War Department (now the Department of Defense) divided the world into five zones, each was named and ranked according to activity. Which was fine, except that it provided the unshakable belief that anything that happened anywhere in the world was a direct threat to the US. Which was almost laughably ridiculous.

Almost laughable, until dropping the most destructive force mankind, in all its technologically ingenious wizardry, has been able to develop. On people who were battling for nothing more than the right to self determination. Not very damned funny then, is it?

Of course, the bombs weren't dropped, and the French left and US forces took their place. And a lot of people were killed, and it still isn't very funny. Communism is falling under its own weight. New threats arrive, and reactions are mixed, but the threat of going too far is always there, And nobody seems to be paying attention.

Why is that?

Grim Reaper by Totemicdruid via Deviant Art

Preparing for Doomsday, lets try something different.

Looking around the landscape of history the one thing that jumps from every era is the end. It changes only in scope, the severity is almost always a constant. Sooner or later somebody or group wants what somebody else has and they are willing to risk it all. And the boulder starts down the hill, rolling all over everybody. It is unfortunate fate that the boulder, sooner or later, rolls over the group that initiated the mess. But, it always happens, and as long as it can, it probably always will.

There is a show about a group of passionate people in single minded pursuit of security. Doomsday Preppers. These people are convinced there is an imminent collapse. A point where humanity will cease to function. Unable to produce enough to provide for society people will resort to lawlessness, and banditry. In an effort to ensure the survival of their family they sacrifice many of the conveniences and pleasures of modern life. Saving, scrimping and doing without to stockpile supplies against the eventual failure.

If this happens the stockpiles of food and supplies will become very valuable. A treasure to be guarded and these people have provided for that as well. Purchasing property that is difficult to access, and arming themselves they are prepared to defend their cache of supplies with deadly force. They feel this will be necessary, and if the future plays out according to their worries they are probably correct.

This may be the wealthiest society in the history of the world, with an enormous reserve of resources and technology, and there is a small, but significant proportion of citizens preparing for its collapse. They are going to make sure they have the resources to continue. It will be vital to to destroy anybody who wants part of it.

These people are sure forces will roll the boulder down the mountain, and they want to be the last
people smashed by the coming disaster. It is the same mentality that drove early man, the difference only lies in what is available. It is no longer a supply of roots and dried berries being defended by people armed with spears and clubs it is now bottled water, canned vegetables, and gasoline being protected by firearms and improvised, buried explosives.

You can mock these people, but they are just playing out their part in the passion play of history. Moreover, it is a stark reminder that we are not so distant or different than our ancestors. It is a dangerous game we play pretending otherwise. But, we continue to roll the dice, everywhere.

Sooner, or later, something is going to happen, and things will escalate, and it will be too late. It may be unavoidable, it may be our destiny to push until there is no choice but to push back, Today, we should all vow to take one small step in correcting course. I can't tell you what that is, it is up to you to decide. Also, you should vote that way, and you should let everybody know why. We may be the only hope this world has.