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Liberals and Socialists decry: "War on <Place Issue Here>"

The wildly popular expression used by desperate activists is getting tired and weak.
A popular tool of the Liberal propaganda machine is the "War on" phrase. Although the use of the word "war" in the context of these silly expressions may seem apt , I think we'd all agree it's getting old. The more people here it, the less effective it is. Often, the phrase is
preceded by a person or group such as "Bush's" or "Republican's".

- (Place Conservative Name Here) War on Homeless
- (Place Name of White Male Here) War on Women
- (Place Name of Christian Here) War on Islam
- (Place Name of White Male, Republican Christian Here) War on Immigrants

Please share with me your favorite "War on" expression and let's discuss it.

Merry Christmas,

Fascists and conservatives decry: "War on <Place Issue Here>" 24.Dec.2003 12:30


A popular tool of the Fascist/Conservative propaganda machine is the "War on" phrase. Although the use of the word "war" in the context of these silly expressions may seem apt , I think we'd all agree it's getting old. The more people here it, the less effective it is. Often, the phrase is a blatant, propagandistic attempt to make it appear as though politicians are doing something good for people, when the results are actually the opposite, ranging from racist round-ups to genocide.

-War on Drugs
-War on Terrorism


Happy Solstice,

Liberals and Socialists Decry... 24.Dec.2003 12:47

Jeb Bush

"War on Terror!" - oh wait a minute - that's the Bush administration's slogan

War on war on 24.Dec.2003 13:05


Good post and good question. In my recollection the first waron was the War on Poverty back in '64. Then there was a war on drugs and now terrorism and soon perhaps prions :)

Seriously, where did this phrase come from? I'm sure sick of it. War has no positive influence on anything -- no good comes from it -- ever. So to me if you want to effect a change in something for the good, don't declare war on it. That's the war rhetoric is worn out.

William James speaks of the "War against war..." back in 1906. Could this be the origin of the phrase??

other "wars on terrorism" 24.Dec.2003 13:23

war on war on terrorism

Reagan had a "war on terrorism" in the 80's. And, of course, Hitler had one in the 30's.


Within the first months after that terrorist attack, at the suggestion of a political advisor, he brought a formerly obscure word into common usage... Our land was "the" homeland, citizens thought: all others were simply foreign lands.

Within a year of the terrorist attack, [his] advisors determined that the various local police and federal agencies around the nation were lacking the clear communication and overall coordinated administration necessary to deal with the terrorist threat facing the nation, including those citizens who were of Middle Eastern ancestry and thus probably terrorist sympathizers.

Question: Is this excerpt about Bush or Hitler?



So what's the point? 24.Dec.2003 14:03


It is inaccurate to say "Bush's war on the environment." It's not really a war, it's more like a rape.

This is the absolute lowdown 24.Dec.2003 15:33

Fred Bauer

KRLance is quite right. We should not use the world "War" and I'll tell you why. The word "War" implies that the other side can fight back. The environment cannot fight back. The poor cannot fight back. Iraq could not fight back either. Our actions in Iraq would be more accurately described as plunder and rapine. But that would make America look like an arrogant bully, so we called it a "War" and gave WMD, Iraqi Freedom and National Security as our pretext.

What a load of crap.

Huh??? 24.Dec.2003 17:22

your mom

"The poor cannot fight back"

The fuck we can't. But since you don't identify with the rest of us, you better get the fuck outta the way.

Best way to see if there is a War on "X" is if "X" is getting much bigger 25.Dec.2003 08:29

Zen Hippy

Cause: The war on poverty: effect: more poverty
Cause: the War on Drugs--effect: more drugs
Cause" The war on Terror--effect: more terror

It's not rocket science here. But as Mojo Nixon said we oughta have a war on war suckers.

English Major's Attention 25.Dec.2003 18:01


There is a poem by a american poet named Robert Peterson or Peter Robertson (help please) called 'Create Great Peace'. Writen durring or just at the end of the Great War or World War One. It begins

Would you end war?
Create great peace?

You rave at war do you?
Do you know that war
has struck in the face
with a fist a race of clerks.
and turned them to man?

It goes on to ask to wage peace as war are fought. ANY ideas on how to fine this???

Create Great Peace 25.Dec.2003 19:31

Migratory Bird


James Oppenheim

Would you end war?
Create great peace . . .
The peace that demands all of a man,
His love, his life, his veriest self;
Plunge him in the smelting fires of a work that becomes his child . . .

Give him a hard Peace: A Peace if discipline and justice . . .
Kindle him with vision, invite him to joy and adventure:
Set him at work, not to create things
But to create men:
yea, himself.

Go search your heart, America . . .
Turn from the machine to man.
Build, while there is yet time, a creative Peace . . .
While there is yet time! . . .
For if you reject great Peace,
as surely vile living brings disease.
So surely shall your selfishness bring war.


Migratory Bird 25.Dec.2003 19:55


Migratory Bird,

Thank you very much those are equally great words by James Oppenheim. But the poem I am trying to find is also titled CREATE GREAT PEACE c1918. I hope to find it before the centennial of the war at least. I know it exists I used it in a play decades ago. I know it's there, I think I know , I will just keep looking, looking. But thank you again.

jilii 26.Dec.2003 03:42


I am sorry thta I wasn't able to find what you wanted. I did look again and I found a Peter Robertson who wrote circa 1903 a book called "Seedy Gentleman" It's for sale as a first addition book.

Sorry, I couldn't do more. I'll continue to look for it. If you find it would you please post it as a daily poetry movement piece? I really like it.