Would you die for your country ? Or your religion ?

Question

Decisions to go to war are taken by people who rarely put their own children in harm's way - Bush, Bin Laden, Blair, etc. So you have to take their word for it that the war is necessary to protect your country or your faith.

And those who return alive from wars are always treated so shabbily by the country they were told they have to "save"

I love my country, but it's no better than any other (including yours, unless you're Zimbabwean) so while I'd die for family and friends, I'd never do it for nationalism. And certainly not for any religion. What do you think ?

bonsai - this is NOT America. And the rest of you who assumed that this question is only about the US - please develop a little perspective. You are only 5% of the world's population, and my question was addressed to all English speakers on Yahoo: UK, Ireland, India, Australia, NZ, Pakistan, Canada and many, many other countries.

Answer 1

I thought about this. Although my granddad was at Dunkirk. I made the decision not to go in to the armed forces. Because who would I be fighting for? The country(land) is owned by a tiny Wealthy minority. Who would suffer if we were invaded, the most? And after they would still live off the land which they got in the distance past. Why do they keep covenants on land they sold? The British forces serve the Queen and her successor.(Not country).

You right Blair would be putting his children through law school, not allowing the to fight. Look at Harrie! Why is his life worth more than mine? Bush didn't go to Vietnam, he served in the home guard, well out of danger.

I believe that Governments, keeps part of the UK impoverished. So that they have recruits. If you live in these parts, it maybe the only opportunity you have. Take the national lottery, for example: it take a disproportionate amount from the poor. And gives it to the Weathy, such as Eaton, Churchill, opera, etc. Now this goes the same for taxes.

Having said all that, I'm up for a revulsion, anybody!!!

Answer 2

I agree with you. Governments tend to have their own interest in mind...many wars are started because they have some political interest or for economic reasons, they are not necessary started because they are being attacked and they are defending the Country. So the only strong reason for which to fight for are your own children. A second good reason would be if you are actually defending your Country if it is really being attacked. But I do believe war should be the last resort. We are living in the 21st century, we should all be civilized people and be able to dialogue.

Answer 3

That's a great question... I had to think a bit (I'm at work and I even ignored 2 phone calls). I think the situation is very important, i.e. is the cause just, how does it affect me and mine (I know its selfish). I agree with your sentiment for the most part, "I'd die for family and friends, I'd never do it for nationalism. And certainly not for any religion." but I believe that their are just causes that I would die for. For example, if I were alive when the United States joined WWII, I can honestly say that I would have jumped up and ran to the recuiter. Hilter's rampage threatened the saftey and security of families throughout Europe, and possibly eventually across the Atlantic. That's a cause I would have been proud to fight for; but.. That being said, there have been certain actions of late, that I certainly don't agree with and therefore would not be willing to die for. My family-always, my friends-always, but after that, it is certainly on a case by case basis.

Answer 4

I served in the military in the 60s and luckily never faced an angry gunner.

But to answer your question about dieing for my religion or country absolutely not.

I would put my life on the line to protect my family, no question there, but war or religion, forget it. I do unto others as I would want them to do to me.

If the leader of one country decides to go to war against another, let the two leaders face off ato the death and see how quickly issues are resolved and guns put away.

Most leaders today don't have the gonads to do what they ask others to do in their name.

Answer 5

In 1998 President Bill Clinton gave a speech at Portland State University and when he said "whites will soon be a minority in America" there was spontaneous applause. Would you be willing to die for a country like that?

Answer 6

I think we Americans have to make a distinction between dying 'for our country' and dying because the president doesn't want to admit failure.

It's easy for us to say that would die for our country or our faith, but we have to say we never really know for sure what we would do until we were actually in the situation.

That being said, both our country -and- our religion exist today only because goodly numbers of people throughout history were prepared to die for them!

Answer 7

Yes, I would lay down my life for my country. No, I wouldn't lay down my life for the sake of my religious beliefs, but I would lay my life down for Christ. After all, he did for us. We were called to war. I guess you've forgotten what happened to us on 911. We're in an all out war on terrorism and Saddam was a terrorist. He terrorized and brutalized his people for 3 decades. It's the job of the president to keep us safe. As for putting his kids in harms way... This is America and they're adults. They have a right to choose what they want to do as a career choice. Those that go to war. No one told them anything! They all made a choice to go and serve their country. They're not stupid and they're not robots. They CHOSE. That's what makes America among the greatest in the whole wide world. We have the bravest of the brave VOLUNTEERING to lay their lives down for their country and her people.

Answer 8

In the event of a world war you will have very little choice!

Answer 9

I love my country, and I am religious. But would I die for them? Yes. BUT... my definition of "for your country and religion" is different than most.

I am an American, and I would not fight in Iraq, because I don't think that is dying for my country at all. That is dying for someone else's country. But if someone were to invade and threaten to destroy my country, then how could I NOT fight? Not only would I be fighting for my country, but I'd ALSO be fighting for my friends and family. In that case, preserving your nation and preserving your friends and family is the same thing, unless you are willing to just up and move.

And what does "die for your religion" even mean? Can you really die for your religion? How? I don't really believe you can die for your religion, but if my right to be religious were threatened, then I would fight for that. It would be foolish not to fight for freedom of religion, because if one freedom is taken away from you, then other freedoms will follow. Life without freedom is worthless. Again, in a case like this, fighting for religion would also be fighting for your loved ones. Who wants their loved ones to live in a world full of oppression?

So, as you can see, I would fight for my country and religion under the correct circumstances, but ultimately I would not just be fighting for those things. I'd be fighting for the freedom of my self, friends, and family.

Answer 10

I'm not one of those brainwashed nationalists so unless my friends and family were in immediate threat then no i wouldn't die for my country. Id just move to another more peaceful country and leave the dying up to the nationalists. They find pride in dying so it seems they are the perfect ones for the job.