Unlimited military spending on our “Military Industrial Complex” causes other countries to spend scarce monies to defend themselves from the “New World Order” empire. We continually cultivate enemies to justify our military spending. Millions have been killed with American weapons during my lifetime.

Training for the next war(s), where nuclear weapons are highly likely to be used is an assault on our right to live. The increased Growler fleet scheduled for this region is an assault on the hearing of the poor homeowners near Coupeville and an unwelcome “taking” of the people’s right to live in peace and quiet of the Peninsula and the San Juans.

I strongly prefer grounding the Growlers, eliminating all nuclear weapons, not building the next generation of Trident Subs, not building air-launched nuclear-capable cruise missiles, negotiating an end to wars, ending all international weapon sales, buying back the guns and turning them into sculptures, cleaning up the battlefields - especially the ones where depleted uranium munitions were used.

Of course we cannot change the fact that Congress continually funds improvements in our nuclear war making power. Of course we have to hate and fear the others, of course top dawg is better than dead dawg. Of course we need to build the next generations of weapons, refine our abilities to annihilate each other - of course.

I encourage you to throw up obedience to the death machine. Be filled with compassion for all that lives. It’s better to plant a garden, grow roses, dandle your grandchildren, walk through the quiet sacred groves, and listen for the underlying song of the universe. There are many choices available this precious moment. Obedience to the chop-logic of the exceptional nation/rogue state mentality is just a choice.

Doug Milholland
Port townsend