In order to protect certain inalienable, universal human rights, a just society must place a limit on its tolerance of the practices of other, less just societies. This statement seems innocuous enough, and repeated aloud in most social circles in the U.S. or Europe it is unlikely to draw harsh opposition. Some may even deride it as being a statement of the obvious. Considering, however, that the West is scarcely more than a century removed from the age of colonialism and slavery, perhaps we should be a little shy about affirming any ideology that alludes to concepts like inalienable, universal, or just. […]
In the Eyes of the Beholder
Female Genital Surgeries and the Illegitimacy of Universal Human Rights
January 3rd, 2007 · Written by Les Beldo · No Comments
The True Cost of War
Are We Turning Our Troops Into Psychiatric Time-Bombs?
July 3rd, 2006 · Written by Les Beldo · No Comments
A grim milestone was observed in June when the 2500th American serviceperson was killed in the most recent Iraq war. Even more startlingly, when assessing the damage to U.S. military personnel and their families, that figure may be misleadingly low. No precise means exists to tally broken lives, damaged relationships, and the general psychological trauma of soldiers asked to do what is otherwise unthinkable in our society — kill. But a survey of the headlines suggests that there is more afoot in Iraq than loss of life. […]
→ No CommentsTags: Essays · Killology · War
Full-Spectrum Dominance
The Future of War: Part 3 of 3
July 3rd, 2006 · Written by Jason Glover · 2 Comments
Unrelenting efforts by the Pentagon and U.S. Air Force are hell-bent on creating outlandish space-based weapons. Critics assert the result will be a free-for-all orbiting arms-race. Part three of a three part series on the future of war.
→ 2 CommentsTags: Essays · Militarism · Science · Space · War
Imperial Evanescence
How Long will the U.S. Empire Stand?
May 3rd, 2006 · Written by Les Beldo · No Comments
The limited perspective offered by the relatively short human lifespan has been cause for much observational error. Even in a postmodern existence where constant change has become the norm and the term progress rendered redundant, the common individual still acts as though – substantively, at least – things have always been and will always be just as they are now. […]
→ No CommentsTags: Essays · Nonfiction · Collapse · Empire
Post-human Warriors
The Future of War: Part 2 of 3
May 3rd, 2006 · Written by Jason Glover · 2 Comments
Bioengineering and advanced robotics are blurring the line between science and science fiction, as the Pentagon pursues the creation of “super soldiers.” Part two of a three part series.
→ 2 CommentsTags: Essays · Cyborgs · Science · War