"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder."
- Albert Einstein

give it a minute and someone will rekindle the good old personal smear campaign ("Einstein was a bad father, a womanizer, yada yada yada), as if his personal "imperfection" invalidates his moral clarity and political stand.

True sense has no owners... Einstein did encourage the USA to develop the bomb that was subsequently dropped on Hiroshima. Okay - his fear was the Nazis... but then you have to accept that he got it wrong.

I comment not to attack erroll's quote from him.
Just to make a point: we need no heros other than the person within each of us. Hanging on to the tails of those who would be leaders is a weakness with awful consequences... and I think that's part of what Einstein was getting at.

Now I await down votes from those who miss that core message! (I actually dislike this voting system stuff on DISQUS as it is part of the same mentality - it's easy to write what you know people want to read. Truth requires the courage to risk being unpopular... as this soldier guy has just mentioned).

Einstein never worked on the Bomb. Some of his theories were used in the planning of the Bomb but because of him being an immigrant from Germany (despite the fact that he was a Jew) he was considered too high of a security risk. Although in the light of that quote it may be less that he was from Germany and more that he was considered a Pacifist and would be unwilling to cooperate in the building of such a weapon of mass destruction.

Leó Szilárd asked for and received Einstein's signature on his letter to FDR. The concern expressed was that it was theoretically feasible to create isotopes that could then be used to create a chain reaction. Because it was possible, it had to then be assumed that the enemy might take steps to do just that. The physicists involved in the research felt that since the country was at war they had an obligation to bring this to the attention of the commander in chief. Post-war it was revealed that the Axis powers and the Soviets were indeed doing advanced research; however, they were much farther behind in their research than thought. In 1941 this wasn't known and the assumption that the enemy's research may progress to the point of having a weapon prototype was prudent. Einstein's encouragement only went so far as his signature on the letter to FDR. It was an attention getter.

Sure - I just made the point that he did encourage the USA to develop the technology.

No matter what he was involved

It is most confusing attempting to understand what you are trying to say. It is also unclear why you decided to give my comment a down arrow assuming that you are the one who did do this. First of all, it is my understanding that Einstein, like Oppenheimer, regretted his decision to promote and advocate for the atomic bomb which needlessly killed approximately 200,000 Japanese at the end of World War II. Second, if you were to re-read Einstein's quote you would discover that Einstein is condemning those soldiers who end up as heroes since they fight in wars which are, by nature, non-heroic as well as the idea of patriotism itself. Since he is condemning the hypocrisy of war and all that it stands for I fail to see what exactly your nebulous point is.

I think that it is also rather doubtful if Brandon Toy would criticize what Einstein had to say about war in the odd and ambiguous way that you appear to be doing.

Not to mention he also despised and warned against the Zionist's demonic propensities..

Thumbs up for that!

Up Yours Guest

Don't you mean up yours Einstein, Einstein?

I didn't give you a down vote.

I just think that we need to embody ideas within ourselves rather than have any leaders/heros. Quote Albert Einstein by all means but there often seems to be a certain tendency to use such quotes as if the very fact that they were said by someone famous offers them more weight. I'm not saying you did this as I don't know... and who cares... but we need to waken up to the fact that each one of us is as capable of realising such things as 'the god of physics' who as I point out, made mistakes.

Give Up Your Second Amendment Rights And You Will Be Sorry! As History Has Told That Story Many Times!

This entire conversation, including Mr. Toy's letter, has zero to do with the 2nd Amendment.
It has to do with making war.
IF you are convinced that the 2nd Amendment gives you the "right" to wage war then I suggest you read it again.

"Hanging on to the tails of those who would be leaders is a weakness with awful consequences..."
Very well said.

"Truth requires the courage to risk being unpopular"....so well put, thank you. I am going to read that statement to myself everyday.

Please don't! You'll become a robot.

Alternative idea - just keep the thought in your heart.

I often doubt if there is really any point in posting on the web. Your reply made think there maybe is after all.

Thank you.

Thanks, Grrr. Don't worry, though, I am not prone to robotic behavior. I try to be a critical thinker--something sorely lacking in this society in particular. Still like your statement on Truth, as it may get some humans off their butts to do something--maybe, but for the most part, things have been set in motion on this planet, which we arrogant humans cannot control. We never have been in control.

" We never have been in control."|

Absolutely. We are like tiny microbes on a spec of dust within an utterly mind-boggling universe... and with our little theories and measurements about what few things we can quantify we think we're gods. What's worse is that we act like we are. Meanwhile the worst idiots are running the nuthouse... all the way to hell.

Sometimes you have to go walk in a field, look at some nature and take a deep breath just to retain some form of sanity...

This world is beautiful but we are 95% insane.

I often repeat what Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society says: "We are an insane species." What kind of species, which perceives itself as "smarter" than other species on the planet, kills its Biosphere? It is because of this very self perception. Because we are so arrogant (as a whole) we believe we can dominate Nature, control her, manipulate her. We are a Rogue Species.
Have you read the late Canadian, John A. Livingston? I found a book in a small radical Boston bookstore entitled "Rogue Species" by this wonderful thinker, writer, naturalist, professor and true activist. It ignited my thought processes, opening new paths of thinking about who we are as a species and how we got to where we are today. This book is, unfortunately, out of print, but another of his writings is still available & includes the above: "The John A. Livingston Reader: The Fallacy of Wildlife Conservation and One Cosmic Instant." If many humans had read these concept, we might have taken a different path--but most likely not, because we cannot shed the arrogance.

The name John A. Livingston means nothing to me but then I'm not a big reader. Thanks for the tip... I'll watch out for him.

It is a good quote from a man with the reptilian knowledge of why that is true:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ame...

Moral Clarity.....allows one to be a bad father, a womanizer, yadayada.....then this old World is in trouble!

I was taught Integrity is not Situational!

You were taught wrong,

Who taught you?

Maybe [women who peddle sex & deceit] shouldn't be teaching children their corrupted value systems.

You know what the female version of womanizer is called?

A woman.

Courageous, Mr. Toy.
Would that more would follow your lead.

Stop The Wars!

An honorable man.

One has to look at the political, militaristic, international relations, and economic policies of today's world compared to the world 30s and 40s. The United States was a different type of country back then. The US was the only country, at that time, that would use the bomb to end the war and had the capacity to do it. It's still a vile creation, but it was created.

We have at least been wise enough not to use the bomb again. The fact that we hail our soldiers as heroes and patriots is not wrong. It is the ends and means to which we use them which causes the shifts and turbulence in morality. WWII was about stopping a political party that had taken over a government and used their soldiers for a means of death, destruction, and genocide. A powerful adversary that had the sponsorship of a nation-state with a dedicated economy backing them. What we have now, and have had since that time, are military actions to squash a perceived threat that does not have the same strength nor money to do the same things as our enemies from the past. War is used to stop atrocity; not create the fuel that powers it. But yet we get that anyway; and that is why it's an ignoble thing.

One could argue that Einstein was reading the work of Edward Bernays. He say one thing and do another...

A little bit late, I know, but this quote has been knocking around in my head since you posted it. Worth all of the 248 up arrows and I am making it 249 right now. Fantastic statement.

Thank you Brandon Toy! It takes tremendous courage to opt out of their insidious game.
Your courage will help others think and discover their own hearts.

Many blessings to Brandon for having the awareness and courage to throw down his weapons of empire. May he be one of the first among many more to come. It would be interesting to see what would happen to the oligarchs if they lost all their military and police minions. I can just picture them like the wicked witch at the end of The Wizard of Oz. I salute his actions and integrity.

The military is the only real 'jobs program' in America for the young and uneducated, and the defense industry one of the last bastions of employment opportunities for the better educated. That's the reality. But wouldn't it be something if every single individual made this choice of conscience and simply opted out. American imperialism would come to a screeching halt pretty fast. Here's a piece I wrote comparing a couple of films all Americans should see: http://www.janetwise.net/ze...

I agree that having people in the military throw down their weapons and quit would have major impact. We need laws in place that say the US gov. can not use drones in their place, nor hire US or foreign mercenaries. You won't get it from the democrats who have their pockets full from defense contractors. Register Green Party. Vote Green Party. No corporate donations taken. ever.

You would also need conscientious objector laws that actually work. Many go to prison for refusal to "obey a direct order".

Better to not enlist at all. Then, when the Draft is reinstated by Empire to further their wars and agenda, refuse to go.

Now, you've "done something". Robbed Empire of the necessary personnel required to exist.

Employees who serve the war machine need to walk out the door, and preferably, lock it behind them.

There are many personal, private actions that need to be taken by real Americans. Unfortunately, most are too broke, too cowardly to do anything meaningful.

Too reduced. Tiny minds obsessed with deceiving each other to impress with a view to sex. They're like their mothers.

After you find yourself enslaved then come back and say how wonderful it is.

we are currently enslaved. so how wonderful is it smartass?

Yes, But As long As We Have The Second Amendment, We Can Do Something About It!

Only until the Chinese or Russians come calling, at your home, at the request of Obama.

“All right, they’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us…they can’t get away this time” – Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, USMC

We need to be a trained armed citizenry.

dont be foolish, the chinese love the way american capitalist are raping america so they can invest in china!!!!

Really? Can you get another job? Can you move? Who controls you?

to the CAPITALIST!!!!

You are the one enslaved-You are trapped from within your own mind for foolishly accepting all of the lies and propaganda through the clever thought perception our Government has smothered you in- You have had the one freedom that is rapidly being taken from us, and that is the freedom of choice-
But even if you chose to change your own pathetic and poisoned consciousness you would still be A slave of usury and Capitalism, A victim of the chattel slavery of the Ponzi scheme of Wall Street and the FED-

Silly, i realize the problems. But i realize a far greater danger. Many of our internal problems Need to be addressed from the bottom up. It starts with the local taxing authorities and the fact that we do not care for our citizens due to human emotions of envy,jealousy,frustration. This has been a long time coming. We have strayed for a citizenry who helped the neighbor barn raise to one of envy and jealousy like a bunch of spoiled 5 years old.

Think of studying what most cities do to get large business to come to town, tax offsets,rebates,kickback,zoning variances sometime taxpayer supported. No contract guarantees which the company will pick up and move or declare bankruptcy. The excuse for this misuse of taxpayer funds; jobs which do not meet the cost lost in the deal.

"We have strayed for a citizenry who helped the neighbor barn raise to one of envy and jealousy like a bunch of spoiled 5 years old."
I couldn't be in more agreement-
I answered your comment thinking you were one that had bought into the "fear the terrorists coming" manipulation of propaganda that serves our MICC so well in their lucrative endeavors-
What I see as our biggest problem is how the Financialisation of our economy has become so overwhelming- Banksters playing Monopoly with their Fiat money scams-These greedy Wall Street CEO's and MIC Corporations have looted our treasury and socialized our tax money through Government handouts and bailouts-They have privatized the profit and socialized the risk- Usurious schemes and practices have left Main Street up to their ears in debt while Wall Street and the vampire squid Billionaires are living quite large-
Wealth disparity is one LARGE problem and I don't see any massive job creation or way out of the tide of poverty that is wreaking havoc on our once independent middle class-
And now we have more "Free Trade" agreements being held secretly behind closed doors- No good will come of this-
And yes, at times I almost think life would have new meaning if I were to run off and join up with the Menonites or Amish-If they would have me that is-

According what i have read our foreign enemies have planned it this way. As well as the dangerous divisions the Teaparty has planned. They just want a weak central government and states to control the populace. The corporations want profit for the shareholders who do not care for national boundaries.

The plan is to bankrupt the US.

We are already bankrupt and in receivership, as planned by the inner-circle owners of the central banks. Detroit is only the first domino to fall. While everyone was watching the smoke and mirrors, the parasites were busy devouring the innards of this country and feasting on the life-blood other nations.

As the brainwashed pawns gladly march off and die on the battlefields to "protect our freedoms," we can sleep well and dream of sugar plums and wide-screen TVs.