Hallowed E’en

We’ve covered this territory before but just one more time, the word “Halloween” comes from the Scottish word for “hallowed evening” of the English, and the Scots, considered the poor cousins, were excused their street-smart version of the royal lingo for “humor and ridicule to confront the power of death.”

Today’s scare that Halloween easily triggers include the much discussed and much denied climate change; the reason for clamping on Iran and the DPRK on the specter of nuclear winter; and, of course, the quick demise of the Islamic State lest it gobbles up the globe, as Aussie PM Tony Abbot likes to scare Oz and U.S. tots.

Let’s take the posturing of Uncle Sam of the widely printed poster. The funny, white-hatted old man, whose most offensive picture shows him pointing a finger at recruits for its selective service system with words boldly printed, “I Want You,” turns out to have some scary scenarios in his subterranean subways.

In the Philippines of my youth, to serve in the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force in Guam, Okinawa, and Hawaii was universally desired, never mind that salts could not rise above the rank of corporal. They were taken into the service to replace African-Americans formerly stereotyped into the mess hall. One returned from the Korean War to a hero’s welcome after joining other countries under the UN banner and U.S. command “in defense of freedom,” never mind that Koreans stewed over U.S.’ preferential treatment of Japan’s warmongers over their interests. At least the military culture was a benign uncle that took care of veterans and provided scholarships for offspring.

Uncle Sam is hardly a scary picture, though acts perpetuated in his name do not measure up to the warmth of the appellation. First in my recollection was the Rescission Act of 1946, a law the United States passed to retroactively annul benefits that would have been payable to Filipino troops on account of their U.S. military service in WWII. The reason widely given was that the U.S. gave $200 million to the Philippines after the war. Of the 66 U.S. allies in WWII, only Filipino veterans were denied military benefits.

Not that it made any difference to my family. My father was a pastor whose mimeo machine and his literary skills were used for propaganda purposes. Listed with the veterans after the war, he never applied for benefits. American-led guerillas publicly quartered his brother for being a public school teacher who translated for the Japanese.

A church-going “enemy” lieutenant informed my Dad that his name was on the list and he should leave town “yesterday.” I was already on deposit but I waited to come out full term instead of panicking out as an encumbrance while on the run!

England and Japan divided the Pacific after WWI, with Japan holding all real estate north of the equator, and England the south, except for U.S. occupied Guam and American Samoa. After WWII, the UK organized the Commonwealth of Nations and receded from its empire. The United States took over Japan’s holdings and started America’s empire.

U.S.’ Joseph Stillwell advised Chiang Kai-shek against Japan. The Seventh Fleet guarded the Taiwan Strait after Chiang carted the Imperial Palace’s treasures. Taipei became a manufacturing center for America and a captive consumer of U.S. jets and armaments. 

USFJ still substantially occupies Okinawa. Senkaku would be Diaoyu had it stayed with Taiwan rather than be an appendage to the Ryukyus where it does not belong. The USFJ kept the likes of Shinzo Abe at bay until Obama decided to officially arm Nippon warriors in defense of sovereign territories and interests (aka China Sea).

That did not make Seoul happy but being the unofficial 51st State of the Union, totally dependent on the USF Korea, it demonizes godless DPRK instead, especially now that almost a third of SoKor marches to the tune of Onward, Christian Soldiers!

Former Oz PM Kevin Rudd recently revealed that he was asked while still on his watch Down Under to join India, Japan, and the U.S. to contain the growing threat of China. The U.S. sails or flies close to the 10th mile security zone of its longtime enemy but China is now among “frenemies” and Pentagon boys are at a loss on how to stir up trouble without getting telltale fingerprints left at the border.

ISIS costumes, particularly with the head wrap, and conceivably, a throat-slashing cardboard knife, will definitely be a scare this Halloween. Gross acts committed in that attire definitely fit the evening. After all, it is hard to simulate the “scare” in pushing a button to unleash a drone on a village, or eject a bomb from a jet to wipe out a whole building, never mind civilian consequences. One does not have the specter of staring at one’s shaking hands after slashing someone’s throat! In fact, after a bombing run, a flyer goes home to dinner with the wife/husband/friend and the children. No hay problema.

Acute stress reaction (PTSD) ghoulishly kicks in later, a real Halloween!