ILIGAN City ― “If you want peace, prepare for war.”
Such is a quote that in itself seems to be contradicting. It’s just somewhat like this story about a man who was accused in court. Said the judge: “You say you’re a peace-loving person. But why did you throw a rock at the man?”
“Your Honor,” the man replied, “after I threw the rock at the man, he became as peaceful as ever!”
This means peace comes at a price. At the price of war. And lately, we hear US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting Taiwan. Pelosi, to note is one hell of a lady. At one time, in 2018, she spoke before the House there, from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon about justice for undocumented refugees there. When she was through with her speech, she got high fives from fellow democrats. Atta girl…
Naturally, her visit to that country did not prompt President Xi Jinping of China to sing, “Be my lady/Come to me and hold my hand and be my lady…” No. The move angered China the more. Why should she and the country she is representing interfere with its “One China Policy?”
Several analysts say that this move of China regarding Taiwan is prompted to some extent, by the move of Russia making war against Ukraine. Even though Russia is only “partially” successful with its move. Because its leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the people don’t like Vladimir Putin’s interference. We can still see on TV people in Kyiv, its major city there going through their lives as if there’s no war against their country. They go to resorts, they go malling, they play games. To hell with what Russia is doing for it is the latter who has hell to pay.
That war there has most of the world come to terms with new difficulties. Like some looming “food crisis” which pundits say isn’t looming anymore as it is already upon us. So, well, even America is in trouble with itself. For it has been found out that former President Donald Trump has brought with him some “classified documents.” Although Trump says they weren’t classified. And of course, he had returned them already.
What, America at war with itself? And how about this impending war with China brought about by Pelosi’s coming over recently to Taiwan? And it is said that Pres. Joe Biden wasn’t even one hundred percent in agreement with Pelosi’s move. But Pelosi like I said, is her own woman. And congress there, like ours, is a co-equal branch. Although I am doubting whether, in practice, our congress is really “co-equal” to the executive branch. Like “co-equal” as in “co-equal.”
So. there might be a war on the horizon? A world war perhaps? As in WW III? Who knows?
Yet these could only be “war games” preparatory to these true wars. With some “nuclear” noise.
In this connection, I remember my friend Fely who asked me if I knew about the “Manhattan Project.”
“What’s that,” I asked and then remembered a story about some scalawag who talked some people into sawing off Manhattan away from the mainland as it has several advantages if that is done. And I said so.
Fely shook his head and then told me that it was a “code” for a nuclear project then. And every person involved in it didn’t know about it, except for his part that has to be done. Until it was boom time!
Could that be happening under our very noses in these times? Who knows?
Yet I remember my late father Dodong who said that world wars are not something to be afraid of. For he has lived himself through wars. And he found out that the war that one has to be concerned about, is the war…inside your own stomach!
Email: norasorino2@gmail.com
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