"The opposite of war isn't peace; it's creation."?

Question

This is my favorite quote from the movie/musical RENT. I had asked a question of what other peoples fav from the movie was and had a comment saying it's not true, and one saying they didn't understand the quote.
So this is why I think the quote is true and how I explain it.
War is destruction. What is the opposite of destruction? Creation. So there you have it. The opposite of war is creation.

Do you agree with the logic I have used to explain the quote?
Although I love different opinions, please don't be rude in your response. Thanks.

Answer 1

I agree with you, but have something to add: the opposite of war is peace, but the meaning of the quote is that you need to go beyond the pure state of peace, and actually create.
It's very similar, in fact parallel to another quote I often think of: Health is not just pure absence of disease: rather it's a result of an active, vitally positive approach we adopt in order to enjoy life to the full.
We don't say someone is healthy just because they're not ill, and in much the same way we speak about society: peace is not only absence of war - it's about creation and building our lives, too. War is of course the worst disease that no society is immune to, so the parallel is obvious.

Answer 2

Yes, I do agree with it to a degree, but while I don't condone war at all, I have to admit that just about every civilization in the world, including America, is here as a result of a war, so technically didn't something get created out of the wars? If that is true, then creation can't be the opposite of war, but it is a lovely quote.

Answer 3

That is a fairly apt explanation of the quote. War does destroy, and creation makes something, but often one thing is destroyed in the craetion of a new thing. Therefore war can also lead to creation.

Answer 4

the opposite of ware is peace. The
opposite of destruction is creation.
War is feud among people, peace is
to prevent warfare and to maintain
harmony.