October 19, 2022
Location: Burger Moe’s, St. Paul
“After a few years of slaughter and starvation ‘greatest happiness of the greatest number’ is a good slogan, but at this moment ‘Better an end with horror than a horror without end’ is a winner.”
— George Orwell, March 1940
HOT WAR WITH RUSSIA IS THE LATEST FAD, following close on the heels of sterilization surgeries for children, experimental vaccines, antiviral face masks, and the burning down of cities. The ongoing brawl between the Bear and the Pig rages on daily, and the American public have – predictably, some would say – sided with the Pig. Few know the history behind Russia’s decision to invade and “de-nazify” Ukraine, and fewer still care – they have their gladiator’s battle, and the beamish underdog must have total victory over the manxome foe, no matter the cost to human life, materiel, infrastructure, or the global economy.
We already pay the price for United States intervention in this war whenever we pay our bills or purchase sundries, thanks to the skyrocketing costs of energy. And these costs continue to climb, as the Eurasian bloc thumb their noses at the United States’ attempts to punish Russia through self-defeating economic means. In reply, many on our side of the globe have seen fit to call for escalation, up to and including the application of nuclear weaponry. One wonders how daft a human must be to seriously call for such a thing, but is then reminded as to how daft our world’s leaders are at this point in time. Has human civilization simply grown tired of existing?
ON THE OTHER HAND, war has been a part of human civilization for as long as human civilization has existed, and human civilization has stubbornly continued to exist despite it. The weapons may have become more frightening, but our power to rebuild and move on has grown as well. Both Dialectical Theory and Natural Selection agree that conflict is necessary for improvement on a civilizational scale. After all, if one is to Build Back Better, one must need to Build Back in the first place.
THE CHAIRMAN, eager to enjoy one last evening of enlightened discourse before a nuclear EMP puts out the lights for good, has thus called a caucus of the Society to debate the following proposition:
RESOLVED: Whoever Wins, We All Lose.
The Debate will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at Burger Moe’s, 242 West 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102.
The Chancellor and Chairman encourage people to arrive prior to 7 o'clock p.m. and to thank our host venue by spending money while partaking of food, drink, and anti-radiation pills. The debate will begin at half past seven. There is no dress code; however, gentlemen who wish to speak must wear a tie, and ladies are encouraged to adhere to a similar sartorial standard (or perhaps a hazmat suit). For those gentlemen arriving sans tie yet wishing to discourse on the resolution, the Purveyor of Ties will keep on hand several remarkable selections. Perhaps a few will be lead-lined, for better protection against nuclear fallout.
Questions regarding debate caucus procedures or about the John Adams Society itself may be directed to the Chairman at (612)-703-6021 or the Secretary at (281)-229-3671.
http://www.johnadamssociety.org
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