That was an ordinary way for a patriotic American to talk…
![“That was an ordinary way for a patriotic American to talk back then. It's hard to believe how sick of war we used to be.[...]We used to call armaments manufacturers "Merchants of Death." Can you imagine that? Nowadays, of course, just about our only solvent industry is the merchandising of death…” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/8fa/kurt-vonnegut-41_art-form_that-was-an-ordinary-way-for-a-patriotic_700049.jpg)
““That was an ordinary way for a patriotic American to talk back then. It's hard to believe how sick of war we used to be.[...]We used to call armaments manufacturers "Merchants of Death." Can you imagine that? Nowadays, of course, just about our only solvent industry is the merchandising of death, bankrolled by our grandchildren, so that the message of our principal art forms, movies and television and political speeches and newspaper columns, for the sake of the economy, simply has to be this: War is hell, all right, but the only way a boy can become a man is in a shoot-out of some kind, preferably, but by no means necessarily, on a battlefield.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote critiques how modern media and economy glorify war, turning death into a profitable industry and a rite of passage for masculinity.
In simple terms: War is commercialized and romanticized in society.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge war‑glorifying narratives.
Themes
war
media
economy
masculinity
culture
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- political speeches
- film analysis
- media literacy
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
commercialism
propaganda
heroism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media shape our view of conflict?
- What alternatives exist to the “war as rite of passage” narrative?
A Different Perspective
The quote may oversimplify complex geopolitical factors influencing public opinion.