It is April 2026 and for this month the Spirit of ‘76 theme is War. We have covered Stoicism, History, and Religion, so it’s time to take things in a more aggressive direction. The topic of War has the potential for conflict, but the Spirit of ‘76 Project has a purpose to educate on government, politics, and the founding of the United States, so these topics will be the relevant focus for this month’s turbulent theme.
War is a state of prolonged, large-scale conflict between countries, nations, or groups, characterized by the utilization of extreme physical force and military strategies. It is driven by several factors such as political disputes, territorial ambitions, ideological differences, or socioeconomic necessities. War often results in substantial devastation, affecting human lives, economic conditions, and socio-political structures. Despite its destructive nature, it has influenced human history significantly and continues to shape international relations.
War has been a part of America all along, as well as world history as far back as you can go. It will continue to be part of our future. War is hell, at least according to those who have been through war. I have had the good fortune of not experiencing war, and I am thankful for that. Other Americans have chosen to fight for me and the country. I appreciate this so much, and I will always support our troops. It is because of this reverence for the people who make the ultimate sacrifice for us that I want our leaders to apply the utmost prudence and judgment before committing our country to military action. I expect our leaders to follow the US Constitution and to abide by our international treaties. War should be a last resort, fought for just reasons, and carried out honorably.
“Undeclared War” is a heavy metal song that is not anti-war per se, but opposed to unjust war. After Memorial Day weekend last year, I had completed 13 songs for Spirit of ‘76 and figured the album was a wrap. Then in June 2025 the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites in Operation Midnight Hammer. This act of unilateral war, without the consent of the American people, inspired a new song, “Undeclared War”. Later in the year I added a verse about Venezuela, when it became apparent that we were building up for a military operation in that country. Writing this song kicked off another song writing spree in the second half of 2025 which brought the total tracks for Spirit of ‘76 to 26. Given how heavy the song is, I figured I wouldn’t release it to streaming and instead make it an unreleased Contraband track, but with a new and undeclared war against Iran it seems very fitting to release it next.
Thinking Thursdays Schedule in April
| April 2nd, 2026 | “To Clog Rather Than Facilitate War”: Why the Founders Gave Congress the Power to Declare War |
| April 9th, 2026 | War Laureates in an Age of Assassination: Rethinking the Nobel Peace Prize After Trump’s Iran War |
| April 16th, 2026 | Time-Limited War and the Constitution: Rethinking the War Powers Resolution |
| April 23rd, 2026 | War, Justice, and Restraint: Just War Theory, the Constitution, and Rules of Engagement |
| April 30th, 2026 | From World Wars to Fragmented Conflicts: Rethinking “Major War” Across a Century |
Let’s get real this month and think about how war impacts us and our country.
Thank you for reading,
Jared Endicott
Realizing News
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