Military/ Industrial Complex

When I was in college in the 60's and 70's one of the most hated and protested concepts was that of the Military-Industrial Complex. We were told that no less than General ,and then President, Dwight Eisenhower had warned against the collusion of the military and the arms dealers. We were also reminded of an even bigger military figure, President Washington, warning against large standing armies. It was said that this combination would lead to perpetual war, which, of course, would lead to uncontrollable spending on arms, which could be loosely translated as everything from bulletmaking to ship and fort building. College protests against this were happening daily, with marchers carrying signs proclaiming "Dow (alleged maker of napalm) shall not kill)."

Recently we have been told that President George W. Bush spent a trillion dollars on the Iraq War, a war which he lied to U.S. (us) about, justifying it by claiming Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

Concomitantly, and subsequently, we started the Afganistan War, which we ridiculously justified by the term "nation building", having absolutely no other excuse to start.

At the same time we are mired in a hopeless recession, which our leaders, and even us, blame on too many entitlements, while the Military-Industrial Entitlement is without a name, and without blame, as we supply arms dealers ( loosely translated as military suppliers of hardware, software, and Personnel), in addition to a large standing army luxuriating in the totally futile War on Drugs.

The military-industrial collaboration does not deserve the name Complex. Let's instead call it the M-I Simple Entitlement, as in the entitlement that is simply destroying our beloved country.

When I was a little child I believed in Santa. My belief was steadfast and unchallenged. At Christmas season our family would go to downtown Memphis to shop at the large department stores. At that time most people's favorite was Goldsmith's; it was the largest and had the best Santa. The other two department stores were not as large and glamourous, and their Santas were somehow not as attractive. We kids inevitably asked how Santa could be at all three stores, and readily accepted without question the explanation that the santas at Lowenteins and Gerbers were "santa's helpers".

Inevitably, as we grew older, there came a day when we talked about Santa at elementary school, and were told by other kids that there was no Santa. We argued with them, didn't believe them when they appealed to reason, and when they said that their parents had told them.

We went home and "slyly" began to challenge our parents about this, being told at first that of course there was a Santa, and then being told .....if you didn't believe in him he will not come to see you.

Challenged with this onslaught of questions, our parent's bravely defended Santa, until one day when my mother was overcome with anger about something else, and told me, "Of course there is no Santa Clause". Crying, I exclaimed, "Yes there is a Santa!" and maintained this stand for some period of time, abutted by threats of no gifts if I told my younger brother.

The tension of maintaining this position being too great and too absurd, in short time I joined the big folks world, proudly proclaiming the non-existence of Santa to my classmates. This position I maintained for many years, letting my own children believe in Santa, probably mostly at my wife's insistense. but making sure that I was the one who broke the news to each of them.

Now, so many years later I look back at my belief, and unbelief, and realize that, sadly enough, all stages were necessary.

Many years ago I asked my very wise father-in-law, Terrell Lott, what I would have to do to join the Masons. To paraphrase, he said, "You have to believe that God is the supreme being...or say you do if you don't."

I believe in Santa.