My OperaWar and so on..
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 9:18:12 AM
For some reason, I'm always shocked when people say things like: "but war is the crucible where real courage is forged", and "who but the valiant in battle can claim the mantle of".. and shit like that.
It's not that I don't see the fact that fighting for something resolutely will not yield results, of course. I've also had a volley of machinegun- fire flying about 30cm over my head - not in a war- zone - but you still think in a different way about how things work afterwards. Perhaps in the sense that you know your own strenght, but realise you're not immortal. And can disappear without a trace just like that, no matter what your ideals are.
Because people who argue for war as an existential force for good, and liberty, and democracy - they're not the ones who have to die for no reason. Neither do they care that people die - indeed, it is only a problem to not see how noble the sacrifice is, and how that sacrifice should be repeated over and over. (Until it's necessary to stay in a war in order to justify the losses so far - and not sully the names of the brave fighters).
People who argue like that, who cheer on war as entertainment, should not have a viewpoint that's worth any debate.
Because trust me on this one - we have more than enough problems already with those who geniunely have a good reason to fight.
It's not that I don't see the fact that fighting for something resolutely will not yield results, of course. I've also had a volley of machinegun- fire flying about 30cm over my head - not in a war- zone - but you still think in a different way about how things work afterwards. Perhaps in the sense that you know your own strenght, but realise you're not immortal. And can disappear without a trace just like that, no matter what your ideals are.
Because people who argue for war as an existential force for good, and liberty, and democracy - they're not the ones who have to die for no reason. Neither do they care that people die - indeed, it is only a problem to not see how noble the sacrifice is, and how that sacrifice should be repeated over and over. (Until it's necessary to stay in a war in order to justify the losses so far - and not sully the names of the brave fighters).
People who argue like that, who cheer on war as entertainment, should not have a viewpoint that's worth any debate.
Because trust me on this one - we have more than enough problems already with those who geniunely have a good reason to fight.
