The discussion that follows was prompted by the article: 1914, 1944, 2014: Capitalism means war. The discussion was initiated by Hawkeye.
Below is the discussion so far. Feel free to add your own comments!
17 July, 2014 - 11:59
#1
1914, 1944, 2014: Capitalism means war
In mentioning capitalist imperialist attempts of prolong itself beyond its 'sell-by date', reminds me of a view long held that, within its system, key components are the arms manufacturing and distribution firms, which presumably perpetually need new orders to clear stocks, and thus wars and the prospects of wars, to avert over-production. Does focus on this aspect of today's imperialism seem likely to raise more concern about its present and future trends ?
This is excellent stuff Amos and well said. But nobody seems to be talking much about the "other" war...I mean with Japan. Or is this being saved up for next year when we can celebrate the wonderful dropping of the Atomic Bombs which saved so many lives which would have been lost needlessly had they not been dropped and the war had just dragged on and on, as bourgeois apologists constantly tell us?
Or doesn't the war in the East count for much? Possibly not. After all it was mainly colored people involved, "coolies" so to speak, and it was they who suffered the most. American soldiers suffered too of course, don't forget that, but then they were facing a merciless enemy who wouldn't or daren't surrender, terrified of the Emperor, and who utilized disgusting and very foreign and far-eastern systems of torture and out-and-out exploitation of slave labour in its appalling prison camps, the like of which had never been seen before.
That the Japanese finally lost the war was another good thing for democracy like beating Hitler, because the triumphant US was able to forcefully impose democracy on the Japs like it or not. And how clever the yanks were in keeping on the Emperor and his "Holy Family" as figure heads of the new Democratic government, despite the Emperor's support and leadership of their power hungry war effort, pillaging China non-stop in the thirties and their disgusting out-and-out imperialism the like of which took the world by surprise; not to mention the cowardly attack on Pearl Harbour. Such lying deceit! Still they learned their lesson. In fact they learned it too well, becoming our business rivals so to speak, with all their new technological gadgets and their oriental cunning for stealing other people's innovative and commercial ideas and cornering the market first. But that's another story.
But perhaps after all this is a good reason for not remembering "the war in the East" for it appears as if the conquered came out best in some ways, though of course their economy is struggling now. But then so is ours. And then of course there's India and Burma and the Great British Raj: Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free and so on. All lost now though. All just a memory. Is this why we aren't talking so much about our glorious victories in the Far East? Or are we just saving it up for next year?