Desiring Machine

Some of the most insightful lyrics I have ever heard come from Leonard Cohen’s There is a War.

There is a war between the rich and poor,
a war between the man and the woman.
There is a war between the ones who say there is a war
and the ones who say there isn’t.
Why don’t you come on back to the war, that’s right, get in it,
why don’t you come on back to the war, it’s just beginning.

I have always liked the sublime paradoxical calculus and insight of the line: “The is a war between the one who says there is a war and the one who says there isn’t”. Even though this song was written in the 70’s it seems very precient today and even more profound in light the confrontational times that we find ourselves in today.

As a true artist Cohen doesn’t offer any advice, merely observation and insight. Knowing that there is a war doesn’t help you any more than knowing that there is not a war. As so many things in life these are beyond our immediate control and will. Hence the paradox in Cohen’s words. However, I find comfort in Cohen’s song because I somehow find it useful to know that the world is on fire. Better that than to sleep through the party, right?

I offer you three videos that can only confirm the suspicion that there are those who want to add to the fire:

Jesus Camp. A Christian madrasah in North Dakota?

Leftist Radicals and the case of Josh Wolf in San Franisco

Islamic Mob Rule at the Trial of Three Christian Terrorists Convicted in Indonesia to the Death Penalty.

No matter what political stripe, you are likely to find yourself in agreement, dissent or dismay with at least one or any combinations of these videos.

But alas I remain optimistic because as a freedom loving, rule of law believing, ultra liberal, Christian school upbringing, privileged White Male I know that this is all statistical noise. I have a trust that cooler heads prevail ultimately. It is just a shame that the noise machine can attract so much attention. Attention whores in an attention economy. That is font of our times and the source the clamour.

Welcome to the war. We will resume our normal broadcasting of peace and prosperity just as soon as we can elect cooler heads to high office.