Mass shooting at Fort Hood and a bitterly blunt perspective

By: Michael_T_Bucci

In his November 7 essay "What Happened to the Stock Market Crash?", Nadeem Walayat invites the envy of most analysts published at his financial site, The Market Oracle, who discover how correct he was when they weren't. To a lay outsider like myself given to overdoses of metaphysics, I induce his methodology to be a variant of Taoism - just follow the path that is before you. It is revealing itself. Don't impose subjective emotions, beliefs, wishes, fears or desires upon it. It always speaks for itself and objectively about itself. Listen. Watch. Discern its message and essence. Then, work with it, not against it. (Not easy!)

A crackpot interpretation if any you think, but in a much similar manner I work with politics and geopolitics. And before me now is the overriding story of the shootings at Fort Hood. Two weeks ago, Nadeem published an essay of mine ("Social upheaval, how close are we?") that stated:

"I firmly believe that open conflict MAY BE UPON US and needs only a small (or large, I believe) catalyst to erupt...

"The present levels of hatred and anger now existing in America - and little recognized or registered by those outside the US - are created, fanned and exacerbated ones...

"Simple human psychology and sociology will warn that these strong collective impulses if not defused or contained will seek destructive outlets and, failing that, find self-destructive ones...This moment seems imminent..."

Was the incident at Fort Hood the imminent one I warned about? Only time will answer this. But what needs saying now is something I don't wish to write for it will invite mass disapproval, and it will brand me. But so it goes...

In the days following 9/11, a Buddhist monk and lecturer was asked the meaning of the event. Succinctly, and shocking to many, he replied: Karma. So it is that actions produce reactions, and the incident at Fort Hood is no exception.

As the media has gained for itself a "tragic story" to spin, explain, investigate and lavish upon with seamless coverage, commentary and sensational headlines, should the full truth be told in explaining the incident it must include the fact that Fort Hood is the epicenter from which aggression and carnage is done to the Muslim people of Iraq, Afghanistan and countless other nations unfriendly to America's self-interest. Should another truth be told, Fort Hood is an incubator for warriors. Warriors do, in my book, commit the crime of murder, though they call it war.

Would the story be as large and compelling if the assailant were a white, Christian private born of parents from South Carolina and not Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, a Muslim born of Palestinian parents? Would President Obama and the nation's media corps attend a memorial service for the numbers of U.S. soldiers killed by suicide from being warriors in America's great armies - that some call killing machines? Can war itself ever be removed from the indemnified safety of moral sanction and be understood for what it is - MURDER!?

The headlines speak of "heroes" and "national mourning", but all readers should only mourn the million Iraqis killed by many of these same "brave soldiers" who now are remembered through this tragedy.

But as sympathy is turning to national anger, Muslims in America are seeking safety like Jews did from the Nazis. President Obama has urged "calm". Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security secretary, joined the calls for patience while law enforcement "ascertains what motivations he had," said she. Flags fly at half-mast. The scene is reminiscent of 9/11. Though thirteen dead is not 2,752 dead, ALL life is sacred. (This includes the lives of non-Americans and non-Christians, I must add.)

War is murder, and murder is murder (Augustine notwithstanding). To grieve and mourn the death of thirteen soldiers is compassionate but entirely incomplete until one also mourns the millions of deaths in the Middle East and Asia from American hands emerging from Fort Hood. To do otherwise is "selective morality" at best; and is hypocritical.

(May we find to mourn the death of any. May we find the meaninglessness of war.)

Was the incident at Fort Hood the imminent one I warned about?

Will my published statement that "open conflict MAY BE UPON US and needs only a small (or large, I believe) catalyst to erupt" be triggered now?

Is this the "imminent" moment I spoke of where strong collective impulses not defused "will seek destructive outlets"?

Insofar as money and markets, markets do not exist in a vacuum. While normally affected by normal human and psychological stresses and dynamics, they are greatly affected by great political, geopolitical and national events. I believe Fort Hood in itself is a tragedy deserving our compassion and grief, but it can be amplified politically and made a casus beli also, of which results in the markets cannot be foretold by charts and graphs.

Should Fort Hood not be this, another will emerge, I believe. It is the "Tao" of America at this moment.

Money, markets, investments, Gold, forecasts, charts, graphs...?

Be intuitive. Be careful. Be safe.

(And someday may we find... the meaninglessness of war.)

By Michael T Bucci

Michael T Bucci is a retired public relations executive from New Jersey presently residing in New England. His essays have appeared at Market Oracle and Global Research. He is the author of nine books on practical spirituality including White Book: Cerithous .

© 2009 Copyright Michael T Bucci - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

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