To Serve Man: Nothing Beats Home Cooking

We fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots.
Your fat King and your lean beggar, is but variable service, two dishes but to one table; that's the end.

-- Hamlet, Shakespeare

In 1962 the classic USA TV series, "The Twilight Zone", aired an episode in which visitors from a distant planet convince humans that the mission of the aliens is to use their advanced technology in aid of humanity. When a skeptical expert decodes the title of one of their books as "To Serve Man", full trust is affirmed. However, just as humans are boarding the visitor's spaceship, he runs up and shouts his latest discovery: he'd misinterpreted the title. "It's a cookbook !".

Today, however, if you're looking for chefs from exotic planets to show up and skillfully butcher flesh for you, your wait is in vain. The current market is dominated by local talent, serving up home-cooked man in African, American, Asian-Pacific, and European cuisines. As with the extra-terrestials, the first course served is always a message of altruism: safeguarding human rights or political/religious utopia offered those who are willing to take the next step - that leads the trusting souls into the boiling kettle.

Each of the world's major religions is used to serve man (Despite Buddhism's non-violent image, today there are Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka using Buddhist rhetoric to push for escalation of the tragic war there. In 1959, the prime minister of Sri Lanka was assassinated by a Buddhist monk). And the USA deserves special mention for serving directly or indirectly (by supplying weapons) in most places humans are being slaughtered.

Though marketing of armed conflict usually reduces it to a simple formula of good vs. evil, some (particularly writers and film makers) view it as a uniquely rich reflection of human consciousness - fragmentation, clinging, ideals, ideology, religion, belief, rigidity, greed, cunning, brutality, ambition, ruthlessness, jealousy, suspicion, pride, deceit, confusion. However, the naive mind may not perceive this and be tempted to see today's conflicts, superficially, as simply ridiculous. But by taking the time to probe deeper into the background, to consider the historical, sociological, and economic forces at work, one finds instead that today's conflicts are deeply, profoundly and tragically ridiculous.

Credits:

To Serve Man , screenplay by Rod Serling (based on a short story "To Serve Man" by Damon Knight)
Photo, top left: Ethiopian militia
Photo, top right:US Navy in Adriatic Sea. Photo by Kris White, 1996

The Menu

Last Major Update: 26 Apr 2000

Site Summary of Dispute Year Killed Displaced Involved Religions

Aceh, Asia Indonesia troops vs. independence rebels 1989 5,000 140,000 Mobil Corp. (US oil company), US arms Although Muslim (like most Indonesians), Acehnese see themselves as culturally distinct and practicing a more devout form of Islam.

Afghanistan, Asia: under Taliban rule Ruling Taliban troops trying to capture areas controlled by opposition 1995 ?? 2600,000 Pakistan, Saudia Arabia, US arms and training Opposition coalition of religious and ethnic minorities against ruling Sunni Muslim Taliban religious army, that controls 90 percent of Afghanistan and imposed a strict version of Islamic law in areas under their control. Other areas of government administration are virtually non-existent

Afghanistan, Asia: under US attack US pressure Taliban to expel group said to be responsible for attacks in US 2001 1000-3600
Studies counting Afghan civilian casualties ?? US, UK, Pakistan Taliban rule disintegrated and Transitional Administration established, composed of rival ethnic/religious groups. But effective reach of government does not extend beyond Kabul. Strict version of Islamic law still rules. As of April 7 2003, both US air attacks and Taliban attacks on US forces continue

Algeria, Africa Algeria troops vs. ousted opposition 1992 100,000 ?? ?? Rebels are fundamentalist Islamic

Angola, Africa Angola troops vs rebels 1975 ?? 1500,000 South Africa, US, UN ??

Assam, Asia India troops vs rebels fighting for self-rule 1979 10,000 ?? ?? Bodo claim culture is threatened by Muslim immigrants who migrate from Bangladesh

Burundi, Africa Burundi troops vs. militia 1993 200,000 350,000 ?? ??

Chechnya, Asia Russia troops vs. independence rebels 1994 ?? 180,000 ?? Chechens are Muslim since 1600 ; Islamic (political) revival as Chechen government is the only government in the former Soviet to have officially embraced Islam as a state religion, with sharia laws and courts being introduced last year; Rebels are pushing Islamic agenda

Columbia, South America Columbia troops and paramilitaries vs. Marxist rebels. 1964 35,000 ?? US, Ecuador ??

Congo, Africa Congo troops vs. rebels loyal to ousted government 1997 ?? 700,000 US, France, Belgium, Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia ??

Eritrea/Ethiopia, Africa Border war between Eritrea and Ethiopia 1998 50,000 500,000 Russia, Italy, Bulgaria, China ??

Guinea-Bissau, Africa Army mutiny leads to civil war 1998 ?? 359,000 Senegal ??

Iraq, Asia UN sanctions cripple economy, force starvation US/UK air strikes on defense sites. 1990 500,000 ?? US, UN, UK, Turkey US, UK claim zone is to protect Kurdish rebels in the north and Shiite Muslims in the south

Kashmir, Asia Territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, involving independence rebels. 1989 25,000 ?? India, Pakistan, China, Israel, Russia Kashmir is the only predominantly Muslim state in predominantly Hindu India and Pakistan is Muslim.

Korea, Asia Active Cold War remnant 1950 ?? ?? US, China None

Lebanon, Asia Israel and proxy troops vs. anti-occupation rebels 1985 ?? ?? Israel, US, Iran, Syria Israel established as a Jewish homeland in Muslim Palestine. Rebels are Shiite Muslims.

Maluku, Asia Communal dispute between Muslims and Christians 1999 3,000 100,000 ?? Muslims vs Christians

Nagaland, Asia India troops vs. independence rebels 1954 ?? ?? ?? ??

Nepal, Asia Nepal police vs. Maoist rebels 1996 1176 ?? ?? ??

Northern Ireland, Europe Reunion with Ireland vs. British rule 1969 3225 ?? Ireland, UK, US Reunionists are typically Catholic, who suffer discrimination from Protestant majority

Palestine, Asia Israel troops vs anti-occupation rebels 1947 ?? 3200,000 Israel, US Israel established as a Jewish homeland in Muslim Palestine

Peru, South America Government vs. Maoist rebels 1980 30,000 ?? US arms None

Senegal, Africa Senegal troops vs. independence rebels in south 1982 1200 7,000 US arms ??

Serbia, Europe Albanians vs. Serbs in cycle of retaliation 1998 ?? 200,000 NATO, UN Serbian forces are mainly Orthodox Christan. Kosovars are mainly Muslim.

Sierra Leone, Africa Sierra Leone troops vs rebels 1991 10,000 500,000 ?? ??

Somalia, Africa Militia battle for control 1991 ?? 900,000 Ethiopia, Eritrea, US ??

Sri Lanka, Asia Sri Lanka troops vs. independence rebels 1983 61,000 750,000 India Rebels are Tamil Hindus in a majority Sinhalese Buddhist country. "As we all know, both religions give the utmost importance to Ahimsa, the principle of non-violence to all living beings." - Bandu Masakorala, delegate of Sri Lanka Veg. Soc.

Sudan, Africa Sudan troops vs. anti-sharia rebels in south 1983 1900,000 450,000 Uganda Christian and animist rebels against government's strict form of Islamic law

Timor, Asia Post-independence violence 1975 ?? ?? US arms Timor is predominantly Catholic, Indonesia predominantly Muslim

Tripura, Asia India troops vs. independence rebels 1979 10,000 ?? ?? ??

Turkey, Europe Turkey troops vs. rebels for autonomy 1984 37,000 ?? US arms ??

Uganda, Africa Uganda troops vs. rebels 1986 ?? ?? Sudan ??

Site Summary of Dispute Year Killed Displaced Involved Religions

Site	Summary of Dispute	Year	Killed	Displaced	Involved	Religions
Aceh, Asia	Indonesia troops vs. independence rebels	1989	5,000	140,000	Mobil Corp. (US oil company), US arms	Although Muslim (like most Indonesians), Acehnese see themselves as culturally distinct and practicing a more devout form of Islam.
Afghanistan, Asia: under Taliban rule	Ruling Taliban troops trying to capture areas controlled by opposition	1995	??	2600,000	Pakistan, Saudia Arabia, US arms and training	Opposition coalition of religious and ethnic minorities against ruling Sunni Muslim Taliban religious army, that controls 90 percent of Afghanistan and imposed a strict version of Islamic law in areas under their control. Other areas of government administration are virtually non-existent
Afghanistan, Asia: under US attack	US pressure Taliban to expel group said to be responsible for attacks in US	2001	1000-3600 Studies counting Afghan civilian casualties	??	US, UK, Pakistan	Taliban rule disintegrated and Transitional Administration established, composed of rival ethnic/religious groups. But effective reach of government does not extend beyond Kabul. Strict version of Islamic law still rules. As of April 7 2003, both US air attacks and Taliban attacks on US forces continue
Algeria, Africa	Algeria troops vs. ousted opposition	1992	100,000	??	??	Rebels are fundamentalist Islamic
Angola, Africa	Angola troops vs rebels	1975	??	1500,000	South Africa, US, UN	??
Assam, Asia	India troops vs rebels fighting for self-rule	1979	10,000	??	??	Bodo claim culture is threatened by Muslim immigrants who migrate from Bangladesh
Burundi, Africa	Burundi troops vs. militia	1993	200,000	350,000	??	??
Chechnya, Asia	Russia troops vs. independence rebels	1994	??	180,000	??	Chechens are Muslim since 1600 ; Islamic (political) revival as Chechen government is the only government in the former Soviet to have officially embraced Islam as a state religion, with sharia laws and courts being introduced last year; Rebels are pushing Islamic agenda
Columbia, South America	Columbia troops and paramilitaries vs. Marxist rebels.	1964	35,000	??	US, Ecuador	??
Congo, Africa	Congo troops vs. rebels loyal to ousted government	1997	??	700,000	US, France, Belgium, Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia	??
Eritrea/Ethiopia, Africa	Border war between Eritrea and Ethiopia	1998	50,000	500,000	Russia, Italy, Bulgaria, China	??
Guinea-Bissau, Africa	Army mutiny leads to civil war	1998	??	359,000	Senegal	??
Iraq, Asia	UN sanctions cripple economy, force starvation US/UK air strikes on defense sites.	1990	500,000	??	US, UN, UK, Turkey	US, UK claim zone is to protect Kurdish rebels in the north and Shiite Muslims in the south
Kashmir, Asia	Territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, involving independence rebels.	1989	25,000	??	India, Pakistan, China, Israel, Russia	Kashmir is the only predominantly Muslim state in predominantly Hindu India and Pakistan is Muslim.
Korea, Asia	Active Cold War remnant	1950	??	??	US, China	None
Lebanon, Asia	Israel and proxy troops vs. anti-occupation rebels	1985	??	??	Israel, US, Iran, Syria	Israel established as a Jewish homeland in Muslim Palestine. Rebels are Shiite Muslims.
Maluku, Asia	Communal dispute between Muslims and Christians	1999	3,000	100,000	??	Muslims vs Christians
Nagaland, Asia	India troops vs. independence rebels	1954	??	??	??	??
Nepal, Asia	Nepal police vs. Maoist rebels	1996	1176	??	??	??
Northern Ireland, Europe	Reunion with Ireland vs. British rule	1969	3225	??	Ireland, UK, US	Reunionists are typically Catholic, who suffer discrimination from Protestant majority
Palestine, Asia	Israel troops vs anti-occupation rebels	1947	??	3200,000	Israel, US	Israel established as a Jewish homeland in Muslim Palestine
Peru, South America	Government vs. Maoist rebels	1980	30,000	??	US arms	None
Senegal, Africa	Senegal troops vs. independence rebels in south	1982	1200	7,000	US arms	??
Serbia, Europe	Albanians vs. Serbs in cycle of retaliation	1998	??	200,000	NATO, UN	Serbian forces are mainly Orthodox Christan. Kosovars are mainly Muslim.
Sierra Leone, Africa	Sierra Leone troops vs rebels	1991	10,000	500,000	??	??
Somalia, Africa	Militia battle for control	1991	??	900,000	Ethiopia, Eritrea, US	??
Sri Lanka, Asia	Sri Lanka troops vs. independence rebels	1983	61,000	750,000	India	Rebels are Tamil Hindus in a majority Sinhalese Buddhist country. "As we all know, both religions give the utmost importance to Ahimsa, the principle of non-violence to all living beings." - Bandu Masakorala, delegate of Sri Lanka Veg. Soc.
Sudan, Africa	Sudan troops vs. anti-sharia rebels in south	1983	1900,000	450,000	Uganda	Christian and animist rebels against government's strict form of Islamic law
Timor, Asia	Post-independence violence	1975	??	??	US arms	Timor is predominantly Catholic, Indonesia predominantly Muslim
Tripura, Asia	India troops vs. independence rebels	1979	10,000	??	??	??
Turkey, Europe	Turkey troops vs. rebels for autonomy	1984	37,000	??	US arms	??
Uganda, Africa	Uganda troops vs. rebels	1986	??	??	Sudan	??
Site	Summary of Dispute	Year	Killed	Displaced	Involved	Religions

Last Updated: 26 Apr 2000        Feedback to  bigmouth@headcity.com