Comments by "nuqwestr" (@nuqwestr) on "Malcolm Gladwell on the origins of modern war | Big Think" video.

"The First Casualty in War is the Truth" - paraphrase to Samuel Johnson. It seems in a Culture War, the first casualty is also, The Truth, Mr. Gladwell. Glibness and cynicism is not wisdom.
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"Battle" ? Gladwell says there were battles in WW1 with over 1 Million dead. There was no single "DAY" where 1 Million were killed, so his statement is disingenuous without explaining a "Battle" can encompass a large time-frame, as the Battles of the Somme and Battles of the Frontiers do. If this is what they are teaching kids these days, we are in trouble. Oh wait, we have been for 40 years, and Gladwell is the effect, not the cause.
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The Japanese also planned for weapons of mass civilian destruction, and would have used them, too, as they did in China. Gladwell's type of historical finger wagging and blaming is just the sort of human expression that leads to war, not prevent one.
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Any war is a crime against humanity, all war is the mutual failure of all parties, and it is people like you, who wag fingers and mindlessly blame, which assure another failure, and another war.
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@mactastic144 The combining of quantum computing and DNA will assure we evolve into a new species, and the meek shall inherit the earth.
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Yes, all war is failure, but your comment about the US is anti-historical and the kind of finger wagging that leads to war in the first place.
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@eagleleft What war did the U.S. start in South America? The U.S. has never declared war on a country in South America? Read about The Monroe Doctrine. Money has been made by some in every war, chaos is profitable, and we see that all through history. Why single out the U.S. when this is a human trait, not a nationalistic one?
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@TheBestPrganator The Culture War? It's well defined, but with many parts. It's Modernism vs Post-Modernism. Post-Modernist's don't believe in a "grand narrative", so it's ironic that an avowed "revisionist" post-modernist like Gladwell has one. LOL
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@froggystyle8270 •́‿•̀ hehe
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Drones were not first used by the U.S., and it is clear, drones will be part of all future war. If you frame this issue against just one nation, one people, you will be promoting war, not ending it.
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"Come out now", when was it a secret?
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@eagleleft I'm not "touting" or in "favor" of anything, but you are. You are touting and in favor of a narrow view of human history and experience. In fact, you propose a "grand narrative", which is quite an ironic position for you to take.
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@eagleleft Yes, you have no coherent response, so you attack the person. You make my point, thank you.
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Ironic that Gladwell says no one knows about the fire bombing, but this very video shows newspaper and newsreel coverage of it from the time, it's never been a secret. This incoherence in the narrative is indicative of the integrity of the story teller; Gladwell has none.
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By the early 1960s LeMay was out of touch, and retired in 1965, then ran as VP candidate with Gov George Wallace in 1968. He had his moment in the sun as a hero, but then self-destructed. Sad, and so is your story about aliens and UFOs.
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@oltch. LOL
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Curtis LeMay was not a welcome part of the Kennedy administration, and was laughed at by McNamara and the "Whiz Kids", LeMay was due the job of Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, the highest military position in the Kennedy cabinet, but that REWARD went to LeMay's junior, Gen. Maxwell Taylor. LeMay retired in 1965 without reward, and even his VP campaign with Wallace was laughed at and derided. Gladwell is a culture war warrior and liar. Don't believe this crap, go learn for yourself, and do not absorb this social experiment indoctrination. The Fire Bombing of Tokyo was a tactical measure to save lives, you can argue the result, but not the intent.
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all war is a crime.
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@edh2246 "quibbling"? My statement is a bit hyperbolic, yes, but not "saddling" Gladwell with it, not at all. I said he was the "effect", not the cause.
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