Why are you pro- or anti-war?

[hippy]

I'm curious.

I would like to know what experiences made you take the view that you have today. Was there a moment you knew you would forever support/oppose war? Was it a gradual procession?

I'm not interested in your justifications for or against war... I would simply like to know the story behind why you choose to be what you are. I'm interested in why people choose to hold the views they do.

I would like this thread to keep simply to motives for being a certain way... please don't attack each other. I'm simply curious.

 

[Angela Harlem]

For me its because they just dont make sense. You have all these reasons for going into war with someone, on a political level, and the action taken is to bomb them, the buildings, communities, people. You send citizens of your coutry over there to shoot their citizens, to engange in hand to hand combat. You send your war ships over to sink and destroy theirs and the people on board. Your planes go over to drop more bombs or risk being shot down. All this killing. The action is not justifiable by the reason. Think of all the reasons wars start. How is it, that the solution to this is to kill? This is a rhetorical question, no answers needed, as the answers only contain more reasons for going in. But the reasons do not make sense to have the action taken as death and destruction, is my point.

When my grandma was young, she was living in London when the first bombs were dropped. The first one landed in a field up the road from them, and the sirens were going off so she took my dad's older brother and hid under their dining room table, she had no idea what else to do. The plane then flew over their house and dropped the next one. It came crashing though 3 floors of their house to land in their cellar. It was faulty and didn't go off. If it did, I wouldn't be here. Not my point though. People die and for what? Because of a political reason?

It doesn't make sense.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

for me it was a gradual thing. i'm anti-war. i just don't see the point in having them in the first place. i just believe in live and let live. we may not agree with other countries' views, but that doesn't mean we should go to war with them. we could save a lot of lives and money if things were talked over more.

 

[Kristie]

because killing people is never a solution

simple as that

 

[Anthony]

It is not that I'm against war, per se. Indeed, history has shown us time and time again that war has often been the solution for peace. It has also, however, shown us, more often than not, how it has been a destabilising and pernicious strife that has ended in the deaths of innocents and the accomplishment of nothing. I dont believe that war is something great and redeeming, no matter if its Hitler you're facing or Saddam Hussein; war is sometimes a necessary evil, but it is an evil nonetheless.

I just think that anyone who opposes or supports war outright risks being obtuse and fails to see the entire picture - though evidently, those who support war outright prove to be more destructive in the long run. Each scenario and situation is different, and must be taken into consideration differently, for all is relative, and I believe this logic is true when applied to anything in life - life is relative.

I largely found this opinion in my upbringing; I was born to Hyspanic/Latino/Anglo parents in Britain, but was raised all over the Middle East. My parents, one a Socialist the other a Communist, have always been liberal, but more importantly, have always known when war is necessary. ie - they do not follow those ideals 'liberals' are supposed to have merely because they are liberal, they taught me that we as humans are not bound by our labels, it is when we break away from them when we truly come into our own.

Nothing is what it seems, no one knows the entire truth, and war is a pretty big assertion when considering that. If war is to be had, it should be justified, proven in cause, and seen as necessary by most people on one side, for that is the only sign of proof that people's interests are truly at risk.

Ant.

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

Ditto all that Kristie, Angela Harlem, and Khanada said.

I don't have any particular moments that made me realize where I stood on war-this is just the way I've felt for as long as I can remember.

War is just...absurd. I mean, look at some of the reasons we've gone to war with people over-land, religious differences-hello? Those are insanely petty things to be killing each other over.

For the more serious issues that cause wars-yes, I know there's horrible people out there. If they're doing inhumane things to people, that's certainly wrong, yes. I don't deny that. Should the inhumanity stop? Absolutely.

But to kill innocent people in our quest to end those hellish things...what does that solve? That just makes the situation worse, not better-and it's no less inhumane than what the horrible people we're at war with are doing.

And people have said that if a few people die, that's sad, but in the long run this war will help people. Look, I don't care if 2 million people die or just 2 people die-the point is, nobody should have to die over stupid disagreements.

Plus, as I always say, look at countries that have been fighting for centuries. When has their fighting solved anything? If fighting solved problems, those countries wouldn't be fighting anymore. But they still are.

I know it sounds naive to some people-but really, what is the harm in just talking things out with countries we're having problems with?

I mean...I get a kick out of it when adults sit there and tell us kids that fighting never solves anything, we must sit down and talk things out and all that good stuff-and then those same adults that tell us kids that go and support a war, go and support us attacking another country. If we have to talk things out, why can't adults do the same thing?

It also bugs me when people who support war think that if we anti-war people suggets peaceful solutions, that "peaceful solutions" automatically is the same thing as "sitting there and doing nothing". We're not saying that. We never will say that. We do think something should be done-just have it done in a way that won't kill people in the process.

Peace is something that I assume pretty much everyone wants. But if we keep fighting with each other, how will we obtain it? The way to obtain a peaceful world is so simple: Just start working out problems non-violently. I mean, call me crazy, but I think it can happen-if we work to make it happen. Yes, that last line sounded incredibly corny, but it's true.

Angela

 

[Foxxern]

War is just...absurd. I mean, look at some of the reasons we've gone to war with people over-land, religious differences-hello? Those are insanely petty things to be killing each other over.

That is true, but often wars are fought over things that are much more important. Things like harshly invading another country or mass genocide. These are the kinds of problems where the only solution seems to be a military aggression. People have to protect themselves, and sometimes war is the only way they can do that.

I am never going to say that I am pro-war. I think it should only be used as an absolute last resort in any situation. But often it can be hard to determine when all other options have been exhausted. It's not just about whether or not other countries think the way we do. It's about protecting the ideals of freedom that we tend to believe in. And when I say freedom, I'm not talking about invading statesthat suppress freedom of press or speech or anything like that. I mean that when a state acts as an aggressor against civilians, something has to be done.

I hope we don't go to war with Iraq. I don't think it is worth it for something we only suspect but cannot prove.

 

[Lilly]

gradual....and i'm still not really into it.

 

[JOFO]

I am anti-war.

I am pro-stopping more mass destruction on the soil of the united states of america.

misconstrue that however you want.

 

[deep]

Sometimes I am pro anti-war.

But mostly I am anti pro-war.

 

[MiniFly]

I am anti-war. To me, it seems utterly idealistic and ridiculous to think that fighting someone and killing can resolve all the problems *cough Bush cough*. It is much more logical to try and work out problems and develop solutions so that they do not prove to be chronic.

 

[JOFO]

I am anti-war. To me, it seems utterly idealistic and ridiculous to think that fighting someone and killing can resolve all the problems *cough Bush cough*. It is much more logical to try and work out problems and develop solutions so that they do not prove to be chronic.

yep, you're right.

the u.n. should pass some resolutions so iraq stops it's chemical and biological weapons program.

that way, the problem will not go on for over 11 years.

 

[Klaus]

War is allways horrible if people stop to talk and start to kill each other.
You loose much more than anybody can win in a war. You grow new hate, new extremism and you kill thousands of men, women, children and babies.
The only winner seems to be the company who sells all the stuff.

And in the end? You have to talk again - so skip the war-part and talk directly.

There are reasons for a war, to defend yourself or somebody who asked you to help defending him. But starting a war several years before somebody might attack you - that's not defense, that's attacking someone.

Klaus

 

[JOFO]

War is allways horrible if people stop to talk and start to kill each other.
You loose much more than anybody can win in a war. You grow new hate, new extremism and you kill thousands of men, women, children and babies.
The only winner seems to be the company who sells all the stuff.

And in the end? You have to talk again - so skip the war-part and talk directly.

There are reasons for a war, to defend yourself or somebody who asked you to help defending him. But starting a war several years before somebody might attack you - that's not defense, that's attacking someone.

Klaus

no my friend, that IS defense. how can you defend, let's say, london, from an al-queda operative releasing nerve gas that he received from iraq once it has already happened?

 

[ghetofabu]

That is true, but often wars are fought over things that are much more important. Things like harshly invading another country or mass genocide. These are the kinds of problems where the only solution seems to be a military aggression.

I agree with this completely. I would like to hear some other alternatives that could have worked other than military aggression from those who say we always lose more and take a step back when we resort to war and/or aggression.

 

[Klaus]

Jofo:
read http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2727471.stm
"His [Bin Laden's] aims are in ideological conflict with present day Iraq"

al-Qaeda can buy nerve gas from several sources, bombing the whole world is no option.
The only way you can protect against terrorism is
a) short term: secret service / cia / fbi
b) reduce hate

Klaus

 

[JOFO]

Jofo:
read http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2727471.stm
"His [Bin Laden's] aims are in ideological conflict with present day Iraq"

al-Qaeda can buy nerve gas from several sources, bombing the whole world is no option.
The only way you can protect against terrorism is
a) short term: secret service / cia / fbi
b) reduce hate

Klaus

while iraq's goals are politically motivated and al-queda's are religious, it does not mean that they won't collaborate against their common enemy: the west.

today, colin powell presented proof that iraq harbors al-queda operatives as well as training camps in northern iraq. this is fact.
I agree with you regarding intelligence to prevent terror attacks as well as trying to reduce hatred towards the west. I did not say "bomb the whole world". that is a ridiculous statement. actually, if saddam stepped down and just went into exile that would be enough for me. but you know and I know he will never do that.

 

[anitram]

My reason is really very simple: I was in a war, when I was 12, had people aiming for my head, shells thrown on my house over and over again. I've gotta tell you, I didn't appreciate it much.

Nobody knows what it is like until you live through it. And I'll go a step further - when you are a completely innocent civilian (like a child), you experience war on a different level. And every time you happen to dodge a bullet, or you survive to make it out of the rubble, you're grateful to any god that'll listen, but make no mistake about it, a part of you dies, and you'll never, ever get it back. And the rest of your life is spent fighting to regain that humanity in you and to rise above what you've seen. Your whole life - 40, 50, 60 years, whatever. And in the moment your life comes to an end, that part of you that died as a child will still be dead, you just can't get it back. All you can do is to strive to be better than good. And you see that the world is a lovely place, or that it can be, so it's not all bad, definitely not.

But to wish this upon any other person who doesn't deserve is a crime, in my opinion. So now, I don't support war.

 

[hippy]

Please stop discussing Iraq in here. This is a thread about why you believe the things you do. There are plenty of other threads for discussing Iraq.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I was just curious to see why the people around here believe the things they do.

 

[Klaus]

anitram:

your posting really touched my soul

 

[JOFO]

Please stop discussing Iraq in here. This is a thread about why you believe the things you do. There are plenty of other threads for discussing Iraq.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I was just curious to see why the people around here believe the things they do.

considering a war with iraq might be iminent, I don't see why we can't discuss it here.

 

[hippy]

considering a war with iraq might be iminent, I don't see why we can't discuss it here.

It would be common courtesy to refrain from doing something that you were asked not to do.

And as I said before, there are plenty of other threads for you to discuss this "iminent" war in.

 

[JOFO]

I apologize profusely.