"To a Siberian Woodsman"

I do not agree with everything Bacevich writes. I do respect his opinions. They are well thought out, and supported in a logical fashion. I know that he has devoted much of his life to service for his country. He served in Viet Nam, the war of his generation. He retired after 23 years in the Army. His son also served in the Army and died in Iraq 2007, in a war that Bacevich opposed. He continues to write about national security issues and policy. By any reasonable standard, the man has demonstrated by word and deed true devotion to his country.

Therefore, it really raised my hackles when one of your commenters referred to him as an "America-hater". I would like to think this person was just a troll passing through. However, it is all too common on many sites to be labeled as an America-hater when someone supports positions with which the commenter disagrees. While serving in the Middle East I met people who hated the U.S. I am sure there are probably some people here who hate the U.S. But someone like Bacevich?

Our Founding Fathers did not like the way things were working in America. They not only complained, they changed it. Crunchy cons are unhappy about, and complain freely about, the declining moral values of our country. I do not think that means they hate the U.S. I assume they are acting in good faith to try to improve our lot. Why then this constant need to resort to the accusation of hating America, when someone else does the same? Let us engage on ideas and give up the dismissive labels.

Steve

"There is no government so worthy as your son who fishes with you in silence besides the forest pool."
I would not (none of us should) stand for the sacrifice my or anyone else's son for neocon/GOP-hack delusions about freedom and democracy in Islamic or other barbaric countries. War is not a video game, it is life and death of your friends, neighbors, and loved ones.

I finally found the poem in a collection of "peace" poems, and read it. Part of me was moved, and part of me was thinking, "This is really sappy." The Siberian is probably drinking vodka, and we can only hope he does not fall down drunk and freeze in the winter.

Some people prefer the bright lights and the freeway traffic, and would join Marx in disparaging "the idiocy of rural life." Others pine for the piney woods.

Agrarianism in concept appeals to me, a city boy, as long as I don't break my nails, or into a sweat.

Rousseau likes. Hobbes rolls his eyes.

Rousseau likes. Hobbes rolls his eyes.

Not much of Rousseau in this. Berry does not call anyone perfect nor does he demand perfectability. Rousseau only used the rural imagery of the "fall from nature" as a stick to beat the bourgeois with. He was a citified parasite at the tables of rich women.

Berry actually farms. Read his prose; he does not obscure the harshness of rural life behind a veneer of sentiment.

"To a Katyn Woodsman, or, We're Not In Kraków Anymore" -

Word to the Siberian Woodsman:
Not to tell tales out of forest,
But I just spotted Rubini the Permabear
Only two post-lengths south;
And take care to mind the log across the path -
He's been hitting the Wendellberries bigtime.

Posted by: Scott Lahti | August 18, 2008 9:14 AM

Nice.

"To Wendell Berry", by a Siberian woodsman:

You dirty American farmer
You no poet
Like Pushkin
Now give me back my vodka
Or
I keel you

http://dangreeson.tumblr.com/post/120646361/i-sing-of-olaf-glad-and-big

i sing of Olaf glad and big
whose warmest heart recoiled at war:
a conscientious object-or

his wellbelovéd colonel(trig
westpointer most succinctly bred)
took erring Olaf soon in hand;
but--though an host of overjoyed
noncoms(first knocking on the head
him)do through icy waters roll
that helplessness which others stroke
with brushes recently employed
anent this muddy toiletbowl,
while kindred intellects evoke
allegiance per blunt instruments--
Olaf(being to all intents
a corpse and wanting any rag
upon what God unto him gave)
responds,without getting annoyed
"I will not kiss your fucking flag"

straightway the silver bird looked grave
(departing hurriedly to shave)

but--though all kinds of officers
(a yearning nation's blueeyed pride)
their passive prey did kick and curse
until for wear their clarion
voices and boots were much the worse,
and egged the firstclassprivates on
his rectum wickedly to tease
by means of skilfully applied
bayonets roasted hot with heat--
Olaf(upon what were once knees)
does almost ceaselessly repeat
"there is some shit I will not eat"

our president,being of which
assertions duly notified
threw the yellowsonofabitch
into a dungeon,where he died

Christ(of His mercy infinite)
i pray to see;and Olaf,too

preponderatingly because
unless statistics lie he was
more brave than me:more blond than you.

by e.e.cummings