October 31, 2012

WSWS: The World Series And Militarism

James Brewer, World Socialist Web Site:
Whether a Democrat or a Republican wins the presidential race, plans for advancing war on a global front will proceed apace after November 6. So it is hardly surprising that the powers that be have taken every opportunity to infuse the events around the culminating contest of "America's pastime" with patriotism and glorification of wars, past present and future. ...

The promotion of US nationalism and super-patriotism at an event called the "World Series" must resonate as contradictory at best with a large portion of the population. The big-business organizers of the games are no doubt aware that the US policy of expanding wars is increasingly unpopular. The constant reminder that war is with us is aimed at breaking down popular resistance to US military actions. Just as corporations and banks dictate policy to the politicians and decide what is acceptable in the country's "democratic" debate, they use their wealth to attempt to dragoon the population into a warrior mentality.
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7 comments:

laura k said...

The promotion of US nationalism and super-patriotism at an event called the "World Series" must resonate as contradictory at best with a large portion of the population.

I wish I agreed with this. I don't think it registers at all.

I agree that the endless war is increasingly unpalatable with a population in such economic suffering. But I question how many people connect that to the constant exhortations of nationalism.

Maxwell Horse said...

"Whether a Democrat or a Republican wins the presidential race, plans for advancing war on a global front will proceed apace after November 6."

This is untrue. Everyone knows that it's the Republicans that want war and that Democrats love peace. (Just like how Democrats and Republicans differ on ALL the major issues! They're like night and day concerning open borders, abortion, outsourcing American jobs, the environment--they couldn't BE more different!)

Also, I'm pretty sure President Obama declared that the war was over, so how can war possibly continue under his watch, when we're not even at war now? Sure, we're still spending trillions of dollars to have a military presence over there, and there are Americans dying there all the time to lord over the population, but still, the war is over.

When Bush came out in his flight suit and declared "Mission Accomplished," we enlightened people knew how silly he was. What a Neocon liar! On the other hand, Obama's declaration that the war is over? Now that meant something. Take notes, Republicans. That's how you sell an alternate reality.

laura k said...

When Bush came out in his flight suit and declared "Mission Accomplished," we enlightened people knew how silly he was. What a Neocon liar! On the other hand, Obama's declaration that the war is over? Now that meant something.

How things work

Colin said...

Yeah this isn't academically unbiased...

laura k said...

Academically unbiased? What does that mean?

allan said...

Yeah this isn't academically unbiased...

You mean it has a point of view? Yes. It does. OMG!

Are you claiming that the events described in the article did not occur before and during World Series games?

laura k said...

Yeah this isn't academically unbiased...

You mean it has a point of view?


So Colin thinks that (a) blogs are academic and (b) academic writing has no point of view? Weird.