The Fog of Peace

What is it about the private ownership of weapons that causes politicians to lose sleep and civilizations to tremble? Can anyone tell me of any civilization or culture that was established by, or preserved through, hugs and kisses? News broadcasters talk about Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and the “Fog of War,” ladies and gentlemen I am more concerned about the fog of peace.

Through my love of knives and other edged weapons I have become acquainted with people all over this great nation and around the world and they all share the same passions and deep concerns. In an effort to stem terrorism America has engaged in wars of aggression in several foreign countries. We have overthrown governments and unseated irreconcilable dictators. We are losing the war on terrorism and another war right here at home. We are losing the War of Independence that our ancestors fought over 200 years ago. Daily our rights as citizens are being eroded under the guise of making us safe. Safe from what and whom becomes the question. It has become acceptable national policy to topple governments in the name of national security, or eradicate terrorists leaders with drones, yet we are now forbidden to take lip balm or shampoo onboard an aircraft. At the same time that military commanders are deciding whether to attack a sleepy hamlet with an airstrike or a cruise missile we are stripped of pocketknives before we can enter an Art Museum. Where is the sanity in all of this? Who are we punishing, and who are the terrorists? Our rights and freedoms are on the brink of extinction. This is a global problem that infects nearly every civilized nation around the world. Sharing some thoughts about intrusive knife laws I quote from a Japanese friend’s email, “I have a lot of doubts, though I love my country.” My friends in England and around the Globe echo this poignant sentiment. For example, here is a quote from the UK, “dave, by the way re. samurai swords, there is talk of them being banned here in the u.k. what a sad place to live.” Friends, I fear that we are wading through the sinister fog of peace.

One man hid a bomb is his tennis shoe and now every day tens of thousands of peace-loving, free citizens have to remove their shoes at airport screening. What if the billions of dollars spent bombing Iraq had been spent on better screening equipment? Wouldn’t that have made flying safer without toppling a foreign government and destroying a country’s economy, stability, and infrastructure? Some terrorists - whom we dare not describe ethnically for fear of inciting riots in the name of the peaceful prophet – hijacked four airplanes and destroyed Mankind’s fragile hopes for security and serenity. Because these religious nut-cases used knives to assist them in their evil purposes, civilized worlds will eventually seek to ban all knives as instruments of mass destruction and terror. How readily will we give over our rights to own knives and pointed scissors and lip balm? Is this really part of the struggle to save freedom? How far will Americans go to secure their safety, what freedoms will they sacrifice? I fear they will spill it all in the name of Homeland Security.

David Decker

White Shadow Dojo