View on War

[Da Skinna]

Today in English class, our teacher went through the students one by one asking them their view on war. All of them went along the lines of "pointless", "sucks", "unnecessary" etc. Then she got to me and I said "Sometimes necessary, sometimes unnecessary, always unfortunate."

This later got me wondering if there's a right way to think of war, because I found it odd that nearly everyone in my class thought it was unnecessary and yada yada. Now, my opinion may just be that: MY opinion. But my class is one of the most advanced in the grade, according to our teacher (a real hardass) and so I'm asking anyone, what is your view on war? And what do you think is the RIGHT view for war, is it pointless, or is it necessary or what?

[Farnan]

First thing to remember is that English teachers are generally the most liberal and radical of teachers, and students are likely to say what they're teacher wants.

And yes you are pretty much right in most cases.

[Publius]

Well, defining "war" in such a broad sense is very hard to define in this manner. There are some wars which in my view were justified. There are others which I see as unnecessary and "pointless" as you put it. A lot is determined by the context of the situation. As such, I think I would agree with your statement "Sometimes necessary, sometimes unnecessary, always unfortunate." as this more or less sums it up in my eyes. A better question for your teacher to ask would have been the students views on a particular war, but in any event, that is my 2 cents

[Hader]

I would have to agree with what you have said, "Sometimes necessary, sometimes unnecessary, always unfortunate." It all matters on the situation, each war is begun for different reasons and is viewed differently because of that. So I would say just what you said there.

[orange slice]

Well i guess it depends on the action for war, like if someone dropped a A-Bomb on a city, then you went to war for that reason i can see why you would go to war, but if someone's not bothering you and you go to war with them then it's unnecessary warfare.

My views on war are very mixed up, but in the current sutuation in Iraq i support that, because of the attack on 9/11.

[Atheist Peace]

My views on war are very mixed up, but in the current sutuation in Iraq i support that, because of the attack on 9/11.

I hope you don't mean that Iraq was involved in that event? I assume you mean that the Middle East is in need of major change, highlighted by 9/11, etc.

Sorry to go off-topic.

[orange slice]

I hope you don't mean that Iraq was involved in that event? I assume you mean that the Middle East is in need of major change, highlighted by 9/11, etc.

Sorry to go off-topic.

Yeah that's what a ment maybe i should word that differently.

[Publius]

My views on war are very mixed up, but in the current sutuation in Iraq i support that, because of the attack on 9/11.

And how does one small terrorist group (not even affiliated with Iraq) and their actions justify making war on an entire country? 9/11 was a horrible tragedy, but making Iraq the scapegoat of Al-Qaeda is one of equal magnitude in my eyes.

[Atheist Peace]

I think it's interesting how everyone said those things about it. It seems like people are always pacifists when it's convenient for them, huh? (just something to take note of, IMO)

My opinion on the matter?

I think violence is needed sometimes. Some wars are justified, most are not. Vietnam, Iraq, etc. are not, in my opinion. Wars like World War II and the American Revolution are justified. War is always justified in a situation like the period of the American Revolution. If a group is being oppressed, and there is not nonviolent way to change the situation, war is the only real option. World War II was, in my opinion, justified because Hitler was committing genocide and invading countries for pride and power. I think that it's usually misused and not necessary, but there are definitely times when that isn't so.

[Publius]

I think it's interesting how everyone said those things about it. It seems like people are always pacifists when it's convenient for them, huh? (just something to take note of, IMO)

My opinion on the matter?

I think violence is needed sometimes. Some wars are justified, most are not. Vietnam, Iraq, etc. are not, in my opinion. Wars like World War II and the American Revolution are justified. War is always justified in a situation like the period of the American Revolution. If a group is being oppressed, and there is not nonviolent way to change the situation, war is the only real option. World War II was, in my opinion, justified because Hitler was committing genocide and invading countries for pride and power. I think that it's usually misused and not necessary, but there are definitely times when that isn't so.

What is justified and what is not is fairly subjective, however, which is why this hard to categorize. For instance, there are many who believe that Iraqi women being forced to wear a head shawl and being 2nd class citizens in itself justified our war. Personally I do not think it is any nation's right to impose on others their own beliefs (unless this is a lethal case, as in WWII) but again, my opinion and very subjective

[Da Skinna]

Lol, I laughed at Farnan wrote, my teacher was a pot-smoking hippy in the '70's (read: is), and a good poet in her own right. I don't know her political stance, but yeah, I've yet to see the poet Conservative... Though I don't think the students will say what she wants to hear, they are some kiss-asses, but I dismiss what they say anyways. Our class has been pretty open with her, a lot of kids have protested when she said something they disagreed with so I don't believe that to be the case.


Atheist Peace, I hadn't thought of that, the convenient part I mean, but it does make a lot of sense, 'cuz I know some of those kids will fight tooth and nail without a care if it came to it, especially the "pointless" kids...

[Da Skinna]

Well, Orange Slice, it can be argued that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 as bad as that was.

The thing about subjectivity is true though, I personally think if a people's basic rights are being trampled, in a harmful as well as deadly way, then war may be necessary, but that can also be subjective...

[Sétanta]

I would have said "Necessary" just to **** the teacher off. (so mature of me) But my English teacher wouldn't have minded, he is a liberal and I am conservative so we always spar on stuff like that for fun.

However it is necessary sometimes.

[Hader]

Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, and you reakky shouldn't even say that Iraq was any bit involved. Remember it was not any country that did 9/11, it was a terrorist group.

One example of necessary war was the Holocaust. We had to step in or the Jews could have been nearly exterminated. Would you rather have that, or far less casualties through war? It all depends on you view on things, and again, it's all based on ideas, thoughts, and views.

Well it wasn't the holocaust that provoked the US into the war, remember it was Pearl Harbor.

[MasterAdnin]

Well it wasn't the holocaust that provoked the US into the war, remember it was Pearl Harbor.

True, yet another large reason was the massive genocide occuring in Europe at the time.

Peace,
Adnan

[Lasher]

True, yet another large reason was the massive genocide occuring in Europe at the time.

Peace,
Adnan

You mean 20 million eastern Europeans that were killed in the Soviet union? I know how horrible.

Germany DID attack other nations unprovoked and thus means required to end the war can be seen justified.

So Soviet unions land grab was different than Germanys?

[Farnan]

To Da Skinna: Yea, I'd guess she would be liberal, I think being a "Pot smoking hippie" is a pre-requisite before you are given an English degree. A bit off-topic but last year I had a real-liberal super feminist English teacher who hated Bush and loved Kerry (this was before the elections). Well, in my first essay in that class I included an attack of John Kerry and how he testified before the Senate. During that entire class I was on the opposite side of nearly every discussion, but for some reason she liked me.

On-topic: I believe war is neccessary and good when the goal is to help others and set men and women free.

[MasterAdnin]

In some cases it is necessary, and some it is not. You were right in saying this, and war deals like this most of the time. At no point is everyone going to have the same views and ideals, and until then, war will always occur, and since it deals with ideals, religion, etc, some will always saw it's necessary, while others say it's not. Even this can lead to conflict.

One example of necessary war was the Holocaust. We had to step in or the Jews could have been nearly exterminated. Would you rather have that, or far less casualties through war? It all depends on you view on things, and again, it's all based on ideas, thoughts, and views.

Peace,
Adnan

[Farnan]

Hey, can you guys do me a favor and not derail this topic into an Iraq discussion?

Thank you

[Publius]

I truly would love to debate about this with you, orange slice, but as Farnan has mentioned this is neither the time nor place