SMOKE IT

OVER THE COURSE OF THE 400 YEARS OF OUR AMERICAN EXPERIMENT, WE HAVE ENGAGED IN AT LEAST 11 WARS. OVER THE PERIOD OF 200 YEARS, FROM ABOUT 1100 TO 1300, EUROPE LAUNCHED 8 CRUSADES AGAINST THE MOHAMMEDAN TURKS. THE IRREPRESSIBLE SPIRIT OF THE MIDDLE AGES THAT CARRIED OVER INTO THE RENAISSANCE, EMBOLDENED THE VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY AND THEN ADVANCED CIVILIZATION, ALBEIT THROUGH UNENDING CONFLICTS, IS PERHAPS NO BETTER EXPRESSED THAN IN THE WORDS OF A 15TH CENTURY KNIGHT.

"HOW SEDUCTIVE IS WAR! WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR QUARREL TO BE JUST AND YOUR BLOOD READY FOR COMBAT, TEARS COME TO YOUR EYES. THE HEART FEELS A SWEET LOYALTY AND PITY TO SEE ONE'S FRIEND EXPOSE HIS BODY IN ORDER TO DO AND ACCOMPLISH THE COMMAND OF THE CREATOR. ALONGSIDE HIM, ONE PREPARES TO LIVE OR DIE. FROM THAT COMES A DELECTABLE SENSE WHICH NO ONE WHO HAS NOT EXPERIENCED IT WILL NEVER KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN. DO YOU THINK THAT A MAN WHO HAS THAT EXPERIENCE CAN FEAR DEATH? NEVER, FOR HE IS SO COMFORTED, SO ENRAPTURED THAT HE KNOWS NOT WHERE HE IS AND TRULY FEARS NOTHING."

PUT THAT INTO YOUR PEACE PIPE, LIBERALS AND SMOKE IT!