War, what is it good for?

Question

I would like to know your opinion on war. I know it is a big topic to talk about. But I keep seeing questions about who won WWII, the US or the UK. Everybody is always so proud of the fact that their country has a good military. Why would you be proud of that? I'm sounding like a hippy now lol. But my partners friend served in Iraq and he killed a child because a man hid behind him to throw a grenade. Now my partners friend has that on his concience for the rest of his life. Why is a good military a reason to be proud?

No I don't dislike men who go to war, they are alot braver than me. I am proud of my grandfather for serving in WWII, but I think that war was completely justified. Hitler had to be stopped. I just can't imagine what it must of been like. He siad that when he was wading through the sea, it looked like it was filled with tripe, but it was from the insides of people who got blown up. How can people honestly want to go to war, I just can't even start to think about it. I think all the world leaders and extremists should sort it out between each other and leave innocent people aone to get on with their lives.

Fred, extremists come over here because we medel. We shouldn't interfere with other countries business. If there is a problem with genocide or an evil dictator in a country then the UN should try to sort it out. There are quite a few countries in the world with a corrupt leader, Mugabe for example. We are not going over there and dropping bombs on innocent people.

Answer 1

War is good only for DEFENSE. The occupation of Iraq is an abomination. We invaded the country as a preventive measure and now we are just sitting around getting shot at. There is no winning this war, it is not possible.

A country needs to defend itself and that is the only thing war is good for.

Answer 2

Straight up - a good military provides a level of security to the citizens of that country, a comfortable feeling that nobody can attack their country or terrorize their way of life. Therefore a person can feel proud about that. But that's really generalizing and on a very macroscopic point of view. Down at the individual soldier level, of course there will be actions taken that are inexcusable if or if not for the sake of war, like your partners friend. Your other question, war, it depends if you are talking in a practical sense or a philosophical one. Practically, it's to see who's better - typical male ego thing - better in a sense of who got more resources, better guns, more soldiers, better tactics, better technology, etc, etc, etc. It's also usualy to prove a point, "I'm better than you," "you can't touch me" etc etc. Because in the end, they just get around a table and talk things out. If people can do that in the first place, there's be no war. Philosophically, there's not much it's good for. Survival of the fittest???

Answer 3

No one likes war but some times war is necessary. The sad part of war is that innocent people do get killed and your friend must except that. Why is a good military a reason to be proud? Well if your country was invaded you just might depend on that military to protect you from the invaders.

Answer 4

You say that your partners friend served in Iraq and he killed a child because a man hid behind him to throw a grenade, there is nothing wrong with that, is seems wrong but if you ever serve in the military you will have to deal with worse things.platoon

Answer 5

Absolutely nuthin'

Seriously though -- I don't think that you're a "hippy" if you don't like war. That's just a label. Don't accept it.

On the other hand, I don't think being proud to have served in the military is altogether bad. I think many young people feel a need to do honorable things. Our society does not give them much opportunity to do honorable things.

So, while the current Iraq war should never have been started and is a mistake for many, many reasons, don't blame the young men and women who are serving and who have served -- they *thought* (and maybe still think) they were/are doing the right thing.

This is a rather simplistic answer to a complicated issue but ...

Answer 6

There have been many examples where war has been a good thing. I will give you a few examples.

The American civil war was partly about the emancipation of the slaves in America.

The second world war removed tyrannical regimes from most of Europe, Russia and the Far East.

The threat of war kept the Soviet empire at bay.

There are many other examples.

It is a good thing that some are prepared to go to war to fight for what they believe to be right. Of course those who believe that war is bad have a right to express those views but they need to remember that others have had to fight in order for them to have that right of free expression.

Answer 7

War is good for business. After World War II, corporations saw how profitable 'war' could be in the U.S.A., so they bought up all the politicians, hired pricey lobbyists, and formed special interest groups to encourage, promote and provoke 'war'. That's why the U.S. has been engaged in the Korean Conflict; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the Cold War; Vietnam and Desert Storm. None of these so-called 'wars' were declared by the U.S. Congress, as mandated in our Constitution; they were all 'police actions' taken on by Presidents who wanted to puff out their chests and act tough. -RKO-

Answer 8

To answer your question, "War, what is it good for?" I would like to quote Ebenezer Scrooge (from the Christmas Carol by Dickens): "The better to decrease the surplus population."

The outcome of war/s may be better for some, but there will always be others that suffer for something they never have any part in.

I do not find any glory in war no matter who ends up in the winners circle.

Answer 9

Absolutly Nothing Ask Bruce Springsteen

Answer 10

What people are proud of are the people that put there own life first and wouldn't think twice about fighting with there life to save others.
I know it must be hard Killing a kid but that could be the difference between life and death or it could have saved two kids lives but your friend knows he wouldn't have done it unless he had to.