How do you define a war worth fighting?
Posted at 3:51 PM on July 20, 2009
by Eric Ringham
(8 Comments)
Filed under: Politics/Government, Religion/Ethics, Security
The recent deaths of six servicemen with strong Minnesota ties are a reminder of the human cost of the wars Americans are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The number of Minnesota deaths in connection with the two wars now stands at 79; the national death toll as of Monday was 5,044. Do such numbers have any effect on your support for the war effort? How do you define a war worth fighting?
Comments (8)
A 'good' war would be to defend the US against attack of course. But also to HELP others when all else fails. Using hindsight Viet Nam would be better off without war, but waiting for the North to embrace capitalism was not an option during the Cold War.
If Rwanda & Cambodia mass murders were occuring today, and the current situation in Darfu & Somalia: would mere sanctions be the moral choice?
I personally doubt US war actions are motivated by desire for gain. I truly think some countries are worth helping so much that sending our boys to die IS the moral choice. If Hitler were killing Jews openly would the moral choice be sanctions or war? davehoug@comcast.net
How about requiring legislators who vote to go to war, to spend 12 months of active duty on the front-line.
A worthwhile war would be one in which my death would help defend the "pursuit of happiness" in our country from becoming enslavement.
The only war worth fighting is the war against the Zombies. Or possibly aliens...depends on the aliens.
How do you decide killing someone is moral?
War entails death. There needs to be a logical 'just war" argument beyond the media spin.
One in which you would volunteer yourself or your child.
A question theologians, philosophers, and war chiefs alike have pondered for thousands of years. I cannot say whether I personally believe that there is a war worth fighting or whether I believe war can be justified. What I can say is that the current situation we face in Iraq and Afghanistan is perilously close to bankrupting our nation's taxpayer, quashing our soldiers' morale, and has significantly altered the face of our nation in the eyes of the world community for ever. The United States has not issued a congressional declaration of war in over 60 years. Iraq and Afghanistan are nothing more than the United States trying to create a foothold in the middle east, and further expanding imperialism. Let us not forget the extreme overreaches of executive power that have come because of these military operations. And let us not forget the war's vast contracting, which put money in the pockets of our executives and their friends. A war worth fighting isn't a war where 5000+ upstanding citizens of our nation are lost defending a country where the upper echelon is so preoccupied with lustful greed, a country that lauds liberty but secretly tortures, or a country where its leader dupes the people numerous times, but fades into the history books. No not a country worth fighting for or a war worth fighting.
When corporations run the government and the media like they do, a war can always be in the public interest of 'safety'.
| July 2009 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
Master Archive
Recent Entries
- How have your views on nuclear power changed over the years?
- Where do you stand on requiring Minnesotans to produce a photo ID to vote?
- Now that the caucuses are over, what are your three most important issues?
- What living writer might still be read 200 years from now?
- What do you think of Minnesota's system of party caucuses?
- How do you think the United States and other countries should respond to the situation in Syria?
- What do you think of constitutional amendments as a way to make policy?
- What changes would you like to see in campaign finance laws?
- What role should evaluations play in teacher job security?
- If you were energy czar, how would you change U.S. energy policy?
Public Insight Network
The Public Insight Network draws upon your experiences to help shape our coverage.More
Categories
Services
In The Spotlight
-
Sound Learning
Looking for ways to ensure your students are doing quality research from credible sources? Sound Learning is a launching point to Minnesota Public Radio's content on the Web. -
The Current Music Blog
Your daily note for good music, news and pop culture. With attempted jokes.
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock
