Beating ploughshares into swords
To me, this is a profound indictment of the jingoistist, somebody's-eye-and-I-don't-care-too-much-whose-for-an-eye mentality that has caused the US reaction to the 9/11 attacks to trigger far more damage worldwide than the original attacks. But a few days later when I googled to find where I'd actually read that comment, I found that others saw the same words in a different light:
When others beat our ploughshares into swords, no one should be surprised that Americans will find a use for them, least of all Americans. —Huffington Post commenter Noble
... I do not consider it a killing machine. IMHO, peace through strength is more than a slogan, it’s a reality we sorely need in this hostile world. The USS New York may very well be a 21st century example of turning ploughshares into swords. I’m proud of it and the country it serves in protecting us.—WORLDmag commenter Nana
Plowshares beaten into swords? ***** YEAH!
—Digg commenter fragMasterFlash
Isaiah 2: "......they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;....", but, in the meantime since there are nations who wish to make war against us and kill our people, we're going to have to take some of those plows and hooks and turn them into the USS New York. —Free Republic commenter muawiyah
>Wouldn't it be..like bad luck to have it built of the steel from the
> towers considering..you know what happened?
> I mean like...if your last house crumbled in an earthquake...would you
> reuse the steel or concrete in your new house?
>
> I'm just thinking...It wasn't unlucky, it was an attack. Taking the steel from a (peacfully, civilian) building that was brought down in an attack, and turning it not only into a military ship, but an _offensive_ attack ship, sends a very specific message. Kind of turning plowshares into swords. And if there is any reality to ghosts (other than in our hearts and minds), the fact that the front of that ship (the bow) is "guarded" by those ghosts is powerful juju.
Much like the World Trade Center, the steel once again endured tremendous tragedy in Louisiana. In August 2005, the ship was slammed by Hurricane Katrina. The steel and the ship survived, a glowing tribute in itself to keep persevering for the American people."It’s already got two battle stars now, the first being 9/11," said Koen. "It’s like the phrase on the monument outside the United Nations. We will beat this sword into a ploughshare and the ploughshare into a sword. We did just that with this."
—USS New York
