War. What is it good for?

The Association of the United States Army is holding a three day symposium this week with the theme “Air, Space and Missile Defense – Global, Joint, Relevant, Today and Ready for Tomorrow.” It's taking place in the El Paso Convention Center.

It's a chance for Department of Defense people and defense contractors to hobnob and display their latest toys to the public and potential customers. From the local news clips on TV last night, it kind of reminded me of a tailgate party before the "big game". And, believe me, they brought the beef.

Everyone inside was pretty juiced, giddily high in fact, as they spoke before backdrops of high tech weaponry. If years past are any indication, busloads of school children will make fieldtrips to view the displays of ominously gleaming, dangerously pointed phalluses erected skyward in a kind of societal indoctrination ritual of our youth. (Dada pondered if any of those gleaming missileheads were tipped with our infamous depleted uranium.)

A local group, The Border Peace Presence of El Paso, held an "Ike Was Right!" vigil outside yesterday to protest against the all too accepted militarization of a psychically numbed nation. In support of this group, my wife travelled downtown, handmade protest sign in tow.

Parking in the Civic Center public underground garage, she was immediately confronted by a police officer and asked to see some identification. Explaining why she was there, the policeman politely walked off with her driver's license to apparently consult with some higher authority. My wife, with no license, was detained for several tense and intimidating minutes before being allowed to join the group.

It was just a minor moment of irony. My wife with her carboard sign, trying to exercise free speech, a police officer doing his 'duty' in a gentle reminder of his authority to check it, all one floor beneath enough missiles and weaponry capable of dismantling the entire city of El Paso's infrastructure.

In the words of my wife's modest cardboard placard,

Wastes
America's
Resources

Indeed!