>You're right in some aspects. But if you're defending your home, your family
>etc. what else can you do? People like Hitler and Stalin don't exactly
>respond to moral persuasion.
>
>Are you telling me that we should not have liberated the occupied areas of
>Europe because of a few black marketers? There will always be those negative
>side effects, you cannot help it, it may be a very fundamental part of
>humanity. I personally do not think that it invalidates what had to be done.
>My father participated in the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration
>camp system. Because of the violence and the killing that was involved in
>that, did that invalidate the cause?
>
>There are wars that are morally justifiable, and wars that are not. I think
>that it would be very good if those who make the decisions about going to
>war visit those who have paid the costs, the wounded soldiers, the grave
>sites etc., before making that decision. But if necessary go to war to
>protect not for aggression.
>
>larry
I'm not going to argue the small point that during WW2 we weren't defending
our home but rather we were invaders (technically liberators I
guess) because it's a small part of the point you are making. I agree
with you. In those times, we should get involved. There are a few bad
side effects but the pro out weighs the con.
My point is war is unconscionable. War may produce unscrupulous
activities. I never said that neither was a reason not to go to war.
You go to war, but you should be aware that the war itself is a horrible
thing and it may produce some bad things. And that is the ultimate
sacrifice you ask of your soldiers. I personally never fought in a
war. But to me, the worst thing isn't dying. The worst thing seems to be
surviving and having to bear the burden of seeing close friends die and
maybe some pang of guilt that you killed another man. And while you try to
find solace by telling yourself that you killed someone else for your
country and because he was trying to kill you, deep down inside you know
that he was doing the same thing you were - fighting for his country and
trying to kill you before you killed him.
The morally justifiable war. I believe that was Augustine. I always had a
problem with that. You have to define what is just. In the old days
everyone, at least the everyone's that counted, agreed it had to be just in
the eyes of God. What about today?
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