For the record, the death toll was as follows: 4,324 American soldiers died, mostly of disease. About 1,000-1,500 actually died in combat. 2,818 were wounded. Philippine military deaths were estimated at 20,000 with 16,000 actually counted. Civilian deaths numbered between 250,000 and 1,000,000, taking into account those killed by war, as well as those who died from malnutrition and a cholera epidemic during (and after) the war. One report indicated that fifteen Filipinos were killed for every one wounded. In the American Civil War, the ratio had been five wounded for every soldier killed, which is closer to the historical norm. Otis attempted to explain this by citing the "superior marksmanship of rural southerners and westerners who had hunted all their lives." General MacArthur put a racist spin on the information, claiming that "Anglo-Saxons do not succumb to wounds as easily as do men of "inferior races.""
Throughout the years, people have had a lot to say about history. Perhaps most famous is the statement by George Santayana that "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Did our nation learn anything from the war in the Philippines? Or have we forgotten the mistakes that were made, and the horrible atrocities and loss of life that happened there, just over a hundred years ago? Does it matter?
David C. McCullough said, "History is a guide to navigation in perilous times." These are perilous times. In a shameful action that brings disgrace upon our entire country, the House has just passed the "torture bill." Now, just like during the Philippine war, those who commit heinous war crimes apparently won't be held responsible for them. So much for any progress our nation has made in the past century. If the US abandons the Geneva Convention, how many other nations will follow? How many more American troops will be subjected to brutal torture, like they were in past wars? Many in Washington are applauding the "compromise" on this disgusting piece of legislation. When news of detainees being tortured hits the press, will the people responsible be praised for their "interrogation techniques" as "long overdue," the same way Colonel Smith was celebrated for his atrocious actions? At the very least, Fox News is certain to approve.
Mark Twain's words are worth repeating: "But now -- why, we have got into a mess, a quagmire from which each fresh step renders the difficulty of extrication immensely greater." With each day that US continues its military occupation of Iraq, this becomes more of a reality. There is no end in sight to this war, and that's exactly what the Bush administration wants. "Let men [and women and children] die to make us rich" seems to be the mindset of our Dictator-In-Chief and the rest of his war profiteer buddies. This endless war has given him carte blanch to torture, wiretap and basically do whatever he deems necessary in his "doomful mission" to supposedly rid the world of terrorism. People who mistakenly imagine themselves to be Christians have embraced his "bandit gospel" of hypocrisy, greed, corruption, ignorance, violence and bigotry. Sadly, it seems that history is repeating itself, with consequences even more dire than in days past.
However, despite the evils and misfortunes that "The Devil" has unleashed upon the world since he stole the election back in 2000, hope still remains; we must never lose it. It's vital to continue speaking out against bad leadership, in the hopes that people will listen and add their voices to ours. It's my hope that we can all learn from humanity's past mistakes, not repeat them over and over again.
Maya Angelou said that, "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again." Though we are living in a world like Mark Twain's parody "Battle Hymn," we should never stop hoping and trying to create a world where we can "live to make [people] free." It is possible.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_battle_hymn_of_the_republic%2c_updated
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/philippine-american_war
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/15558130.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/jacob_h._smith#philippine-american_war
Throughout the years, people have had a lot to say about history. Perhaps most famous is the statement by George Santayana that "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Did our nation learn anything from the war in the Philippines? Or have we forgotten the mistakes that were made, and the horrible atrocities and loss of life that happened there, just over a hundred years ago? Does it matter?
David C. McCullough said, "History is a guide to navigation in perilous times." These are perilous times. In a shameful action that brings disgrace upon our entire country, the House has just passed the "torture bill." Now, just like during the Philippine war, those who commit heinous war crimes apparently won't be held responsible for them. So much for any progress our nation has made in the past century. If the US abandons the Geneva Convention, how many other nations will follow? How many more American troops will be subjected to brutal torture, like they were in past wars? Many in Washington are applauding the "compromise" on this disgusting piece of legislation. When news of detainees being tortured hits the press, will the people responsible be praised for their "interrogation techniques" as "long overdue," the same way Colonel Smith was celebrated for his atrocious actions? At the very least, Fox News is certain to approve.
Mark Twain's words are worth repeating: "But now -- why, we have got into a mess, a quagmire from which each fresh step renders the difficulty of extrication immensely greater." With each day that US continues its military occupation of Iraq, this becomes more of a reality. There is no end in sight to this war, and that's exactly what the Bush administration wants. "Let men [and women and children] die to make us rich" seems to be the mindset of our Dictator-In-Chief and the rest of his war profiteer buddies. This endless war has given him carte blanch to torture, wiretap and basically do whatever he deems necessary in his "doomful mission" to supposedly rid the world of terrorism. People who mistakenly imagine themselves to be Christians have embraced his "bandit gospel" of hypocrisy, greed, corruption, ignorance, violence and bigotry. Sadly, it seems that history is repeating itself, with consequences even more dire than in days past.
Maya Angelou said that, "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again." Though we are living in a world like Mark Twain's parody "Battle Hymn," we should never stop hoping and trying to create a world where we can "live to make [people] free." It is possible.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_battle_hymn_of_the_republic%2c_updated
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/philippine-american_war
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/15558130.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/jacob_h._smith#philippine-american_war
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