We white people have had a fairly rough time of it. Black buffalo soldiers running around all over the west whupping our Indians and taking their land away from them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_soldier
No sooner finished beating the last of the tribes onto their own land on reservations than those buffalo soldiers were off getting us into the Banana Wars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_Wars
Hell, a century ago they were down in Honduras and Nicaragua rampaging around protecting the interests of the American Fruit Company. Yeah, no oil, no heroine. Bananas. Fruit.
General Smedley Butler was in command, and here’s what he had to say about those buffalo soldiers and what they did:
Perhaps the single most active military officer in the Banana Wars was U.S. Marine CorpsMajor General, Smedley Butler, who saw action in Honduras in 1903, served in Nicaragua enforcing American policy from 1909–1912, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in Veracruz in 1914, and a second Medal of Honor for bravery while “crush(ing) the Caco resistance” in Haiti in 1915. In 1935, Butler wrote in his famous book War Is a Racket:
“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_Wars
Like General Smedley Butler, most of us white people feel pretty badly about what those Buffalo Soldiers did to our Indians and those Mexicans in Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua. But now even though it’s Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s still going on a century later.
Doesn’t be anything we white people can do to stop it. They’re taking over. Can’t even get a budget passed in Congress because of what the Banana wars are costing.
About all that’s left for us white people to say is, “Thank you for your service.”
Old Jules
So Far From Heaven 
Reblogged this on elroyjones and commented:
It will be a more perfect union when CEOs are doing their own dirty work and families are no longer claiming their dead and wounded loved ones after faithful service protecting corporate interests and personhood.
elroyjones: No point trying to improve on what’s already perfect. Jack
That was awesome, entertaining, educational, historical, hysterical, moving, sad, true, and lots of other words!!!
pouringmyartout: Thank you. Jack
Oh no, thank you.
Seams our whites of WWII felt the wrath of our Buffalo Soldiers this past week end when they wen to DC to view the monument to them. It would be funny if it wasn’t true that immigrants, illegal at that, get more respect, honor and freedoms than those who fought for freedom.
Nobody’s got much freedom except inside themselves, I reckons Mary. Whatever happened at war memorials probably doesn’t have much bearing on anything except an underlying attitude in Washington DC toward the regular people. Never knew anyone who fought for freedom, though I’ve known a lot who got shot up serving in the armed services of this country. Knew a lot more vets, WWII and onward who never fought at all except against one another in bars all over the world. Lofty term, “fought for freedom“. Probably enough of an overstatement to justify careful usage. All us vets did what we did and we thought it was best, right, probably good at the time. Got paid for it, spent our time. This country doesn’t owe us anything including thanks. We’re a piece of what’s wrong if we pat ourselves on the backs and puff ourselves up pretending what we did helped anything. At least after the Japanese surrendered. Gracias, Jack
It worked during General Butler’s 33 years and it’s still working today. The one time someone rocked the boat was in the early 60’s, he didn’t invade Cuba. Then he was talking about not invading Viet Nam…. Almost 50 years ago he was shot and replaced by a guy who knew what the American military machine was for.
Bananas or opium, Follow The Money.
Hi Rob: We’re talking most of the history of the human species here. Things don’t change much in human behavior over time because we aren’t able to assimilate nor accumulate wisdom generation to generation, I speculate. Technology grows, human wisdom just goes through a constant cycle of seasons. Same as earth. Gracias, Jack
Off topic…I have an almost new, working, propane RV 6 gal water heater I’m trying to get rid of. I’m in Liberty Hill, north of Austin. Interested?
Hi Ann: I’m over north of Kerrville 40 miles. Even with fuel prices dropping the cost of gas would be prohibitive to even look at it. Whatever you were asking as a price I wouldn’t be able to afford, most likely, either. Fact is my water heater works on the RV. The idea of putting a water heater in the trailer has some appeal, [in case I end up living in it sometime] but I think I’d best pass. You ought to be able to find plenty of interested buyers nearby, though. I used to know a lot of folks in Liberty Hill area. Used to be a strange town. Do they still have that art thing in a park near downtown? Happen to know whether Alan Vincek’s still alive? Any Shannons still living out that way? Gracias, Jack
Ahhh…I just moved here and know only a few folks in this park, so “Who? Huh?” and yeah, gas is pricey alright. I’m hoping to just give this thing away, rather than Craigs List it. Last few times I tried that, scammers exclusively. None of them Chosen Ones.
Best wishes and keep on blogging.
Thanks Ann. Still curious though about that art park in Lib Hill. It was a national contest of some sort back in the 60s, early 70s. Those statues were there a long time after everyone forgot why. Gracias, Jack
I think you hit the nail on the head about the war machine. Sadly the propaganda about freedom keeps our young who have ideals being fodder for the cannons. Blessings, M.
Maybe the young need to get some different ideals. Stay alive longer, or keep their consciences clear later on in life, Mary. Just saying. Jack
Wiith havin so much written content do you ever run into anny problems of plagorism or copyright violation?
My site has a lot of unique content I’ve either created myself or
outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without
my authorization. Do you know any techniques
to help prevent content from being stolen? I’d genuinely appreciate it.
Irritable bowel: I’ve been lucky that way. Mostly all I have to do is say what I think and nobody much wants to quote me or steal my content. Mostly they just steal the lies everyone else tells and shoot quotations of famous people back and forth at one another. Jack
I think you are right about our young ones needing to get different ideals. Right now I think the whole country needs to come up with some ideals that have value beyond the almighty dollar and certain folks having uncontrolled power because it is given to them by those who want everything free at the expense of those who have worked for it. Just now happy with the world I’m living in. And mighty thankful I’m not one of the young ones growing up in the current mess. Blessings. Mary
Hi Mary: We’re lucky the mess we grew up in wasn’t this one, I reckons. Gracias, Jack
Looks like I am showing up as anonymous instead of sagesparrow. I had to delete my internet program…firefox and reinstall. Must be why. Maybe life will show down where I have time again to read more of your post. Till then…..blessings. Mary
Hi Mary: Blessings back at you. Jack