Slow Bullets: A blog site by novelist John Rachel: peace

Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts

Monday, February 3, 2025

The Boll Weevil Bluegrass Band Performs “War Is Making Us Poor”

The Boll Weevil Bluegrass Band Performs “War Is Making Us Poor” | John Rachel

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

‘Meggie’ Taylor Performs “War Is Making Us Poo

Rapper “Meggie” Megaton Taylor recorded my new anti-war song.

He’s a big guy with a big voice!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcsmULNyt7E

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

‘Meggie’ Taylor Performs “War Is Making Us Poor” | John Rachel

Monday, December 30, 2024

Happy New Year! (from Japan) | John Rachel

Ten years ago, I wrote a song that I call my “holiday greeting to the world”. I played all of the instruments and my wife and I performed it in my modest home recording studio. Then I made a video.

Since then we have seen humans plunge into more violence, more brutal inhumanity, death, destruction and suffering.

I wouldn’t change a word of what I wrote back then. In fact, its message is more vital and timely than ever. We need to embrace one another in what unifies us as a species, not destroy one another over differences which in the grander scheme of things are irrelevant, if not petty.

As we approach 2025, may I wish the best year ever for you and those you love!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGXsZ3BsWjs

By the way, ’akemashite omedetou’ means ‘Happy New Year’ in Japanese. Here are all of the lyrics to the song:

1st Verse:

It’s a very special time of year / For family and friends holiday cheer / For those no longer with us / We shed a tear / A time to share / A time of feast / A time to care / And pray for peace / A time to give to those who have the least

Chorus:

Merry Christmas? / Happy Hanukkah / Peace be with us / Happy New Year

2nd Verse:

This is the time to start anew / Atheist Christian Muslim Jew / To reach within and find the love inside of you / Discard the old seek out the new / Reject the false embrace the true / To look ahead decide to bring out the best in you

Choruses:

Merry Christmas / Happy Hanukkah / Peace be with us / Happy New Year

Akemashite omedetou / Peace be with you / Happy New Year

Merry Christmas / Happy Hanukkah / Peace be with you / Happy New Year

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

Happy New Year! (from Japan) | John Rachel

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Life In Japan: Dekansho 2024!

This year, Masumi and I pulled out all of the stops for the annual Dekansho Festival. We wore traditional clothing, me a jinbei and her a yukata. Jinbei is summer wear for men, and a yukata is the summer version of a kimono, since a regular kimono would be way too hot this time of year.

The festival was especially groundbreaking for me, since I learned the Dekansho dance! Both evenings Masumi and I danced with the crowd, circling the stage countless times. The music, of course, is performed live. It’s a great feeling dancing with thousands of smiling people, folks of all ages, heights, weights, some shy, some outgoing. What a total hoot!

Which makes me realize why this festival is so special, why it’s becoming more and more popular each year — this year it was often shoulder-to-shoulder, particularly by the food and souvenir booths — with visitors coming from all around to experience this unique celebration.

Dekansho is not just a “spectator festival”. It’s a “participant festival”. It’s like a big party!

If you watched the video, you heard the music and got a quick glimpse of the dancing. Frankly, it’s impossible without using an airborne drone to capture how many people were doing the Dekansho dance. Half of the festival grounds was covered with dancers. Some alone, some in pairs, many in groups of ten to twenty.

You might have also noticed a celebrity appearance by the Japanese mascot/destroyer/mutant, Godzilla. And while we didn’t get a photo of him, Spiderman was there too! The kids loved it.

Yes, the kids. And the old folks (like me). And swarms of teens. And everyone in between.

This is how life should be. A whole community coming together, laughing, smiling, dancing, singing, eating, drinking. Joined by people from surrounding communities, who double or triple the joy of the occasion.

By the way, I thought Masumi looked great! It’s rare I get to see her dressed in traditional Japanese garb.

We were there both days. Despite there being how many attendees? — 10,000? 20,000? — we saw quite a number of folks we know. We ran into two of Masumi’s daughters, their closest friend and her new husband. We saw neighbors from our village. We saw Yuka and Dan. They’re married. Yuka is Japanese, Dan is British. I met Yuka as her English teacher back in 2008. We saw Bodi, a friend from Pokhara, Nepal, who manages a local Nepalese restaurant.

My only regret is that Dekansho only lasts two days. Like I said, isn’t this what life should be like all of the time? Then again, I suppose it wouldn’t be so special if we had it every week or every month.

I guess we just need to figure out how to make every day special, each in its own unique way.

I think I’ll start each day by dancing.

Or maybe I’ll sing as I ride my new bike through the rice and soybean fields . . .

. . . songs about peace . . . friendship . . . kindness . . . celebration . . . love.

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

Life In Japan: Dekansho 2024! | John Rachel

Saturday, August 10, 2024

My Two Recent Anti-War Books

Writing about and promoting peace to an American audience might be a thankless enterprise. But to be thankless, it would first have to be noticed.

Violence in the U.S. is so endemic, so commonplace, so intrinsic to the American Way, it would be less extreme to suggest to people that they stop breathing or eating than to propose that fewer guns might reduce the ongoing slaughter. Mass shootings, unless they are a full-frontal horror show involving copious bleeding and splattered entrails, innocent children, terrorists or grandmothers in wheelchairs, though a daily occurrence now, are so much a part of the fabric of life, they now rarely even make the news. Same ol’ same ol’. Better ratings reporting on new trends in smart phone dating apps or meltdowns of transgender athletes refused entry to girls locker rooms.

Scaling this mentality up from road rage and drive-by shootings to relations among nations, results in the same glassy-eyed stupor. To suggest that the country and world could do without war is yelling in a vacuum. American foreign policy comes down to a basic, unstated platitude: It’s our way or bombs away.

So where do I fit in to the savagery that is the new normal?

Am I deterred? Does such a fanatical embrace of human expendability discourage me? Does such indifference to the value of human life intimidate me?

Not quite. Two factors are in play: I was taught to dream the impossible dream. And ironically, there’s some Zen comfort in pointless futility. Dylan said it best: There’s no success like failure.

My two most recent books are about peace. Go ahead. Laugh. I’m happy to put a smile on your face.

THE U.S. AND PERPETUAL WAR came out in May 2023 . . .

As an eBook . . .

As a Deluxe Paperback . . .

WAR IS MAKING US POOR! was published just last month . . .

Both of these were intended for Americans to read. Unfortunately, rarely does anyone in the U.S. buy them. They sell almost exclusively in Canada, England, Europe, and Australia. Not sure why that is. Maybe it’s like I said at the beginning. “Writing about and promoting peace to an American audience might be a thankless enterprise. But to be thankless, it would first have to be noticed.”

Whatever.

Let me close by changing the subject.

Want to know what by far is my most popular book? It’s my novel about trafficking of Asian prostitutes, PETROCELLI, completed and published in 2015.

What about my most popular article over the past couple years? It’s a chapter from my book LIVE FROM JAPAN!, which appeared on my blog site August 4, 2020.

Life In Japan: TVs on TV

You probably guessed it. It’s about the popularity of transgenders on Japanese television.

There’s a lesson in all of this somewhere. Let me know in the comments below if you figure out what it is.

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

My Two Recent Anti-War Books | John Rachel

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Life In Japan: Peace Parade

You wouldn’t know it from the saber-rattling of recently assassinated former prime minister Shinjo Abe, or current prime minister Fumio Kishida, whose slavish obsequiousness to the forever war whims of the United States, is shameful and nauseating. But the vast majority of Japanese citizens, especially the older generations who remember the horrors of World War II, are for peace. They support Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which forbids anything other than a purely defensive military, just what is minimally necessary to defend Japan from aggression by other countries.

As a public school teacher, my wife Masumi belongs to a union and that union supports a truly left-wing agenda, one that serves the interests of working people and actively promotes peace.

Every year, they have a sizable demonstration, a march in Kobe for their admirable agenda.

This year emphasized their support for strict adherence to Article 9 and separating Japan from its destructive allegiance to America. The U.S still has at last count 56 military bases here, essentially an occupation force in place continuously almost 80 years after the Japanese surrendered and hostilities of the Second World War ended. That was September 2, 1945.

I guess to avoid its characterization as being “confrontational”, this years rally was called a parade, though it felt like a demonstration to me, minus the tear gas and pepper spray. Mind you, the last such event I attended was in 2003 in Portland, Oregon, when 58,000 people in a futile effort to prevent U.S. aggression, marched against invading Iraq. We were among the millions across the entire globe who raised our voices, who declared loud and clear, heartfelt opposition to the anticipated, unjustified, illegal war on Iraq — one based purely on lies propagated by the Bush administration. We know how that turned out.

Which is largely the reason for my current position on demonstrations. They feel good, they are important in terms of “educating” the public, they usually represent the best instincts and intentions of the saner elements in society — the pro-Palestinian demonstrations going on right now being a very noble example — BUT the people who need to hear the messaging of such efforts aren’t paying attention and certainly aren’t listening. So no matter how many people attend or how much they’re on the correct side of an issue, demonstrations are for the most part ineffective, and have been since the anti-Vietnam War rallies back in the 70s. That’s the reality of the situation as it currently stands. Sad but true.

In any case, Masumi and I marched for peace with about 5,000 other good, decent folks. As the only Westerner, I both stood out and felt very special.

I made my own sign for the peace parade. On one side it said in English, “Respect other people, respect other countries, no more war.” On the other side, the same message was in Japanese, to which my wife added, “Respect others, respect yourself.” Nice touch! Which is why I married this wonderful person. She’s brilliant and her heart is in the right place.

Lucky me!

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

Life In Japan: Peace Parade | John Rachel

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Happy New Year (from Japan)

Eight years ago — OMG, has it been that long? — I wrote a song and Masumi, my multi-talented Renaissance wife — who unlike me can actually sing — and I recorded it in my modest home studio.

I played all the instruments but frankly was never happy with the piano performance. I guess I should have used my hands instead of my feet. Anyway a couple months ago, I did some simple repairs to the piano playing and it sounds at least passable to my ears now.

Of course, this meant I had to resync the music to the song video. I did that and took the opportunity to replace a couple of the images which weren’t really appropriate. One was Netanyahu, who when I originally used his pic I honestly didn’t recognize. He hardly fits with the message of peace and harmony I want to convey with this song, so he’s history.

It was interesting listening to the music and lyrics again. Usually when I go back to a song I wrote, there’s always something I want to change. But honestly . . . I wouldn’t change a single word or syllable here. Why? Because it comes from my heart and says exactly what I want to share with others.

It’s New Years Day here in Japan as I write this. The world has another chance at getting it right, 365 days to show respect and love for one another. I know that 99% of us will try to do just that. For our leaders — crazed, sick, power-drunk megalomaniacs — it’s another story. I hope those of us who know the incredible potential there is in the world for peace, fellowship, and acts of kindness can defeat the purveyors of evil, mistrust, division, war — those for whom love is impossible, those who want to make it impossible for the rest of us to experience and share.

Happy New Year from Japan!

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

Happy New Year (from Japan) | John Rachel

Friday, July 15, 2022

People Power – Part 1: The Only Possible Path to Peace

Here’s the premise. If anyone can find a flaw in this logic, please let me know . . .

• The majority of US citizens want an end to war and reduced military spending.

• The defense budget can and must come way down.

• The DOD is not going to defund itself.

• Congress is not going to defund the DOD.

• The wealthy ruling elite makes huge amounts of money from war.

• As a captive of big money politics, Congress exclusively serves the ruling elite.

• Thus, Congress and their wealthy patrons will never willingly reduce defense spending.

• Only THE PEOPLE will take the initiative to shrink defense spending and end the wars.

• Current elected representatives are not listening and will never listen to THE PEOPLE.

• We must replace those now in office with ones who listen to and serve THE PEOPLE.

• So, the only path to peace is WE THE PEOPLE uniting politically and demanding it.

• We only vote for candidates who make an ironclad commitment to peace and diplomacy.

If there’s something missing or out of place here, please give us some helpful assistance. We’re always looking to improve our thinking.

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

People Power – Part 1: The Only Possible Path to Peace | John Rachel

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

War is over if . . . | John Rachel

John Lennon was idealistic and inspiring. His lovely, if somewhat naive Imagine, embodied the hope and vision most of us share for a better, more peaceful world.

Personally, I appreciate Lennon’s genius even more listening to the background vocals and out-chorus of his phenomenal Christmas ode, Happy Xmas (War Is Over) . . .

The beautifully sung line that really catches my ear and fires my imagination is . . .

John and Yoko certainly had the right idea. It’s an idea most of us want to believe in!

At the same time, despite how good I genuinely feel entertaining such a thought, I see a problem here. That sentiment probably wasn’t true back in 1971 when the song was released, and it certainly is not true in today’s world.

The vast majority of people in the U.S. and across the globe want an end to the wars. But given the current configuration of political power, the realities of who decides where and when the next conflict will take place, what we the people think is completely irrelevant.

We everyday, sane, decent, peace-loving folks CANNOT stop the endless wars for a simple and obvious reason.

We are powerless!

I mean that literally, not figuratively.

WE HAVE NO POWER!

And the people who do have all of the power to make peace or wage war have no desire, have zero motivation to end their aggression, to stop creating more enemies, to reduce tensions, to once and forever retire war as the main mechanism of foreign policy.

In fact, all of the rewards and incentives for those now in power — the ruling elite and their lapdogs in government — are to escalate conflict and confrontation, beat the war drums louder and louder, increase misunderstanding, promote fear and mistrust, and accelerate the march into battle. The threat of war, preparation for war, and starting wars will be endlessly recycled until there is a complete, game-changing, paradigm-shifting challenge to the policies which define the way our government now deals with the rest of the world.

War is among the most profitable investments in play. And the turmoil and chaos resulting from war keeps the current batch of warmongers in power. They make money — enormous sums of money — and lock themselves in a position to make even more money.

Why would they lift a finger to seek peace?

Why would they care whether we want peace or not?

Why would they even pay attention to us when we question them?

Why would those who exclusively benefit and enrich themselves selling war, promoting war, manufacturing and marketing weapons, creating more justifications for more lethal fighting machinery, pushing for endless military expansion, why would these amoral, money-hungry, power-drunk empire builders and imperial plunderers declare ‘war is over’ JUST BECAUSE WE WANT IT?

No, as poignant and beautiful as John Lennon’s inspired and inspiring lyric line is, reality demands we reconfigure it. Maybe it doesn’t sing quite as well or create as warm and fuzzy a feeling in us as his original line. But this is the only way things will change . . .

That is the truth about peace in our time . . . or I should say, perpetual war in our time.

It’s up to us to change the disastrous trajectory that we’re on. It won’t be easy. “They” have the money, control of Congress, the federal bureaucracy, the media, most of academia and the think tanks. “They” have been building a permanent war economy from the 1950s, which even President Dwight Eisenhower tried to warn us about way back when.

On the other hand, we have the numbers. In fact, we vastly outnumber the warrior-class empire builders, and if we are unified, determined, focused, and have a solid plan, we can turn the country around and create the conditions for a world at peace.

It’s entirely up to us. Please get involved!

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

War is over if . . . | John Rachel

Thursday, December 30, 2021

What Goes Down Must Come Up!

The world may be chaotic but we individually can remain whole and focused.

Our leaders may be amoral and manipulative but we individually can be respectful and sensitive to one another.

The daily stream of news reports can be filled with vileness, anger, confusion, and loss of hope but we individually can be fountains of joy, vision, clarity, fellowship, and positive change.

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

What Goes Down Must Come Up! | John Rachel

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Peace Dividend Candidates

We need to get every candidate running for federal office in 2018 on board.

The Peace Dividend Refund is long overdue.

It's time the government paid up!

As I mentioned in my previous blog . . .

"All the Peace Dividend strategy requires is that people look at it, then stand strong and united — stick up for themselves and other good decent American citizens who have been getting the shaft — then go into the voting booth and only vote for candidates who give us a legally-binding guarantee that they will go to Washington DC and do what needs to be done."

Okay, that's simple enough. We know who to vote for and who not to vote for.

But what's a "legally-binding guarantee"?

This is the legally-binding candidate contract for the Peace Dividend Refund:

It's very straightforward.

If we really want our money back; if we want the endless wars to stop; if we want to see our country become strong, safe, solvent; if we want to reverse the barbarous, self-destructive militarization of our country and the world; if we want to end the slaughter of thousands of innocent people across the globe and be respected again as a country that promotes peace and harmony, then . . .

We only vote for candidates who sign the above contract.

No compromise. No equivocation. No negotiation. No fear.

If a candidate for federal office -- President, Senate, House of Representatives -- will not sign on the dotted line, he does not deserve, nor will he or she get our vote.

If we stand strong, remain united, refuse to back down, we can do this.

Our children and our children's children will thank us.

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . http://jdrachel.com ]

Peace Dividend Candidates