the Great War and the grand disillusion

[Andrew Dinn]

Christopher Tassava writes:

> I've always wondered about the import of WWI to our lovely century here.  

...

> I think it's an interesting question.  I'd like to hear some other ideas 
> about the question.

Interesting notion that if GR is seen as a covert commentary on the
Vietnam war (and when is Jeff Baker's book on this subject going to
appear?) then WWI stands to WWII as the Korean War to Vietnam. And if
WWI marked an intensification in the technology, logistics and
politics of mass slaughter which reached its resonant frequency in
WWII then Korea could be seen as the start of a decline resulting from
over-dependence on technology, logistics and politics, a decline which
reached its nadir in Vietnam.

That's certainly the story John Vann appears to have believed, at
least according to reports in `A Bright Shining Lie', that the systems
perfected by the military in WWII were applied in ignorance of local
conditions and in the face of evidence that they were inappropriate
first in Korea and then again without correction in Vietnam. The
system became bigger than the generals whose credibility depended on
its continuation. A very Pynchonian theme of ascent and descent, the
Angel and the Virgin.



Andrew Dinn
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And though Earthliness forget you,
To the stilled Earth say:  I flow.
To the rushing water speak:  I am.