When lone gunmen brutally slaughter innocent citizens on our shores, the first thing everyone runs to diagnose is motive. Wild speculation rages as the first few confused details trickle out, which eventually are firmed up as substantive information becomes public. The media framing implies, but can’t bring itself to mention directly, whether the psychological cost of warfare might be a deeply destructive force that erodes the emotional health of those who serve. That, in turn, points a finger at our reliance on war as an economic tool and a political necessity. Politicians and military contractors both push a robust military option and insist upon on the existence of many triggers eager to be squeezed. Socialist might be the right-wing insult of the hour, but pacifist follows closely behind on the scale of damning conservative indictments.
