Notes of
Concern…
…Jackson Blair
WORD PICTURING
When I set aside time to read the newspapers I often get a
chuckle out of terminology. Recently, reading a number of accounts regarding
military practice drills planned jointly for South Korea and U.S. forces on the
Korean peninsula I was rewarded with a treasure trove of word pictures.
The government of North Korea does not like the idea that we
“practice” for war. You may recall that North Korea is currently run by a real
“nut case” dictator who recently succeeded his father who was an even greater
“nut case.”
I use the words “nut case” to paint my own word picture for
my readers!
The “nut case” is represented on this matter by one Pak
Rim-su. That name alone conjures up word
pictures of especially humorous possibilities. Pak Rim-su has advised the
leaders of the planned “war practice” that both the United States and South
Korea will suffer “miserable destruction” if the plans move forward.
Close your eyes.
Imagine “destruction.”
Then imagine “miserable destruction.”
You should have a picture in your mind’s eye about now. Are
you suffering from a cold sweat? Are you wringing your hands? Have you reached
for the Valium?
Let me summarize.
A “nut” who runs a country so small and insignificant that
they seem to regularly launch costly missiles into the sea of Japan (which is
like shooting a missile from New York intended to land in California but
finding it in pieces in New York City’s East River) sends a honcho named Pak
Rim to instill fear and trembling in the United States of America.
You couldn’t make this stuff up.
In any event, we are a bit guilty ourselves of playing with
word pictures. Consider “war games.” Is
there a heart beating irregularly in any chest that thinks war of any kind is a
“game?”
It is hard to expect our enemies to take us very seriously
when what we are practicing is considered to be a game. Not only do we call
what we are doing “war games” but we then give each “war game” a name. In the
case under discussion, the joint operations in Korea, we have named these games
“Key Resolve” and “Foal Eagle.”
How much to you suppose we pay the General in the Pentagon
tasked with coming up with these names? He is probably the same guy that
purchased the expensive toilets everyone writes about when the defense budget
is ready to pass.
I can make a stab as to the message being sent with “Key
Resolve.” I won’t even try with “Foal Eagle.”
I have watched our relationship with the Koreas over many
years. My own belief is that if the militaristic north really wanted to invade
and capture the south they could be in Seoul in time for lunch the day they
started marching.
Their problem is that in order to get to their reserved
table at the Intercontinental Hotel restaurant in Seoul they have to march
across thousands of American troops currently standing around on the 38th
parallel separating the two Koreas.
One might ask who the rocket scientist was that decided it
was somehow in our best interests to place a serious number of American lives
right on the line separating two countries that despise one another. Probably
the same guy who thought the Arabs would be delighted to have the Jews build a
homeland right in the middle of their neighborhood.
And we know how well that worked.
So if the “nut case” and the “Pak Rim” guy are serious we
could find ourselves at war with North Korea after they annihilate our troops
on their way to lunch.
All this leads me to the suggestion that perhaps we should
revisit all our mutual defense agreements (“mutual” is another interesting word
picture-as if Taiwan or South Vietnam or South Korea had anything real to offer
in defending the United States of America against any enemy) and determine if
they have any reality for today’s world.
In the meantime, have some fun with the word pictures the
military creates throughout the world.
