"The enduring attraction of war is this: Even with its destruction and carnage it can give us what we long for in life. It can give us purpose, meaning, a reason for living. Only when we are in the midst of conflict does the shallowness and vapidness of much of our lives become apparent. Trivia dominates our conversations and increasingly our airwaves. And war is an intoxicating elixir. it gives us resolve, a cause. It allows us to be noble."

"Many of us, restless and unfulfilled, see no supreme worth on our lives. We want more out of life. And war, at least, gives a sense that we can rise above our smallness and divisiveness."

- Chris Hedges, War is a Force that Gives us Meaning

Psalm 17:8-14 (The Message)

"Keep your eye on me;

hide me under your cool wing feathers

From the wicked who are out to get me,

from mortal enemies closing in.

Their hearts are hard as nails,

their mouths blast hot air.

They are after me, nipping my heels,

determined to bring me down,

Lions ready to rip me appart,

young lions poised to pounce.

Up, God: beard them! break them!

But your sword, free me from their clutches;

Bareheanded, God, Break these mortals,

these flat-earth people who can't think beyond today."

this is certain to be horrible: the boondock saints II

the girl, the bad dialogue. and the first one is one of my favorite movies. sigh. it looks like something that lifetime for men would produce.

department of "they're so cute!": Passion Pit

imeem it up

You Belong to Me - Jason Wade

for a long time my first dance at my wedding song was "at last" by etta james. i think i might switch it to this. maybe the version by carla bruni, though.

what Hurt Locker taught me about men

After seeing the trailer for 'Hurt Locker' on apple trailers, I've been wanting to see it. Most of my guy friends who would see it with me are dealing with some form of PTSD and watched the trailer and immediately said no. None of my female friends I asked seemed interested. So I went to my stand-by action movie companion: my dad.

The movie was everything I'd hoped it would be. So horrible, beautiful, interesting, deep. It opened with the quote (what's the word for a quote that starts off a novel or movie?) - "The rush of battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug." - Chris Hedges

I want to read Hedges' book War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning

I have a word document going with evidence and ideas about men and war. Although I think about it quite frequently, I only have one other quote written down, by Ted Turner (found on that quote thingy above my gmail): "Sports is like a war without the killing."

I think that there is something intrinsic in men - something that enables them to go to war. Something in them that finds it desirable. I've seen the joy of the rush of battle many times with men, from middle school boys up to old men.

This observation is to be contrasted with the horrible emotional wrecks that the army spits out after a couple tours of duty.

Is there a good way to wage war?

At the end of 'Hurt Locker' (spoiler alert), it shows the main character (his job in Iraq was dismantling bombs - extreme adrenaline) coming back to his ex-wife and child and being told to clean out the gutter and chop mushrooms. The next scene shows him walking off the plane in Iraq with a big smile on his face.

What can be made of this? Does the army brainwash and condition these men in such a way that makes them unable to reenter society? Is this necessary? Is there any way a person could be good at a job that constantly puts them in a position of certain death, while also comfortable with the mundane pleasantries of life?

from studio mela @ etsy

In Stitches - David Bazan

"I might as well admit it
Like I've even got a choice
The crew have killed the captain
But they still can hear his voice
A shadow on the water
A whisper in the wind
On long walks my with daughter
Who is lately full of questions
About you
About you"

- David Bazan "In Stitches"

Chicago Reader: "The Passion of David Bazan" - July 2009

Thanks to Chris for this.