Are the American values of freedom and democracy worth dying for?

Question

...I'm wondering will anyone really vote "no" and defend their vote? It sure sounds nice in theory, but in reality if forced to die for their country the amount of the willing drops drastically.

I know that a common phrase among hippies was "there is nothing worth dying for." I want to see if we have any of those on this forum and, if so, see their reasoning.

I'm just saying that very many will say "yes" but of those many few will be willing to carry it out if opportunity arose. Only a minority, mostly extreme, will say that there is nothing worth dying for, and even then they are probably lying to themselves.

Yes, America is worth dying for sometimes.
No, America is not worth dying for all the time.

Was America worth dying for in World War II? Yes.
Was America worth dying for in Vietnam? No.
Was America worth dying for in Kosovo? Yes.
Was America worth dying for in Korea? No.
Was America worth dying for in the First Gulf War? Yes.
Was America worth dying for in the Second Gulf War? Debatable--perhaps under better management.

Answer 1

no, and as you can see , when its pushed on others at gun point ( Irak ) they will risk dying not to be subjected to imperialist doctrine. just because you like your system others like me may view it as an oligarchy, that supports apartheid states. you have a system you enjoy in your country, don't ram it down our throats in other countries.

Answer 2

Yes, definitely. You can pry the gun from my cold dead hand.

I'll fight so people have the freedom to burn the flag of the country that allows you to do so, and say that we should continue to do so.

I'm in the military so I will try to comment on the belief that the military is poor and stupid.

I am in the military. I joined AFTER getting a B.S in Chemical Engineering from Penn State. No, I was not in ROTC nor did I get money from the military while in college. I am still in the Navy though I could command more money in civilian work.

Yes, I'm not the smartest person in the world, but I work with mostly very educated people, and I see many people coming into the military with a few years of college, many very intelligent, and many from non-poor backgrounds.

Were you ever in the military or do you just believe what liberals tell you?

Answer 3

In WWII Americans were afraid a foreign power would take over their country and kill everybody including woman & children.
Answer: They fought to protect their loved ones.

In Korea & Nam they were fighting to prevent the spread of communism,,,,so they were really protecting our form of government,,,,,made up of smug politicians.
Answer: They fought to protect the American way of life.

Where I live, out in the country, our homes are our own very small countries, and most people have guns.....And I imagine many or most will protect themselves and their families if pushed to the brink.

Answer 4

I would fight for American values of freedom and democracy to the death and that's the only time any citizen should. Being killed in a "war on terror" because some war hungry politicians need to make bigger profits is bogus beyond belief.

Answer 5

When America is threatened it is worth dying for but when America is not being threatened one can wonder why are Americans dying for someone else. Are we so arrogant that we think the world must be exactly like us in every way?

Yes American values are worth dying for and have been since 1776 but for Americans. Those who want these values who are not Americans can die for their own values in their own country and if those values are like ours all the better.

Answer 6

yes I think it is.
I believe in helping other people, even if that means dying for them to be free.
I would rather die than live without freedom.
thats why it baffles me how many people will give up our freedoms and call it security or something else that is needed. freedom is most important and is needed more.
we need it more than we need to connect with our histories, than we need to have a good reputation, be good role models, stop the bad guys, ect.

I can't think of anything that freedom is more important than.

Answer 7

Sorry, but I think your list of questions are a bit backward. Were we fighting for American freedom in Bosnia or Kosovo? Were we fighting for American freedom in WWI? Were we fighting for American freedom in the first Gulf war? Are we fighting for our freedoms in Iraq? The answer to all of these are NO.
Is America worth fighting for? YES it is. But in none of these wars I listed were we ever fighting for America, our country or our Constitutional freedoms.

Answer 8

I highly object to your characterization that "Only a minority, mostly extreme, will say that there is nothing worth dying for, and even then they are probably lying to themselves."

There is a permanent underclass in this country who, for no other reason but to escape their impoverished circumstances, have enlisted in the US armed forces and ultimately gave their lives to defend the American values.

Your banal question sullies their sacrifice.

Answer 9

The question could be better rephrased:

Are such freedoms worth fighting for??
and the answer is most commonly in my opinion yes, but it depends on how you propose to fight for them.

You shouldn't have to involve yourself in an unjust war to fight or die for them.

Answer 10

In general, yes they are worth dying for. But I would be hell bent against going to war in Iraq given the way it's being prosecuted.

Answer 11

They are worth dying for if someone is trying to take them away from you. They are not worth dying for if we are trying to impose them on others. They are our values, and we should fight to the death to defend them. But we pervert their very meaning when we use them to justify offensive action.

"They took our freedom away, and gave it to the gookers. But they didn't want it. Seems they'd rather be alive then free. Poor dumb ba$tards." - Full Metal Jacket