Thoughts on War: Part I
War, though regrettable, is a necessary fact of human life. It's like Police work or working third shift in the Emergency Room. It breaks the rules of creation. War is right up there with religion and politics as one of the most contentious topics to discuss. The truth is that politics and war are inseperable concepts (and, in fact, religion is often quite prevalent as well). Even if a war is not politically motivated, politics will play a large part in the outcome. Defending or enlarging borders, eliminating threats or simply irritations, money, women, revenge, and many other factors lurk beneath the moving mass of an armed force going forward into battle.
In a world of nations, survival means defending yourself, and this is why war is necessary. Nations must have a standing army with which to protect their citizens. Having powerful allies is not enough, as Austria and Czechoslovakia witnessed in the 1930's. And Hitler was able to take those countries without even starting a war. The nation that allows its military to deteriorate while it's leaders and citizens pontificate on the beauty of peace is in grave danger.
That's what makes me sick about the anti-war crowd. They have absolutely no historical perspective. "We don't like war because it kills people!" They are spitting on a military which exists for the sole purpose of protecting them. I believe this is an affront to the thousands of men and women who have died to protect the place these gutless hippies live and their freedom to do it in. Why, when firefighters are killed in a building collapse, don't they clamor for all fire departments to be dismantled? It's rather obvious from this example that you can't do that, as if you did everything would burn to the ground. But I tell you this: soldiers are even more necessary for the survival of a nation than fire fighters, and yet there are so many people in our nation that hate them.
In a world of nations, survival means defending yourself, and this is why war is necessary. Nations must have a standing army with which to protect their citizens. Having powerful allies is not enough, as Austria and Czechoslovakia witnessed in the 1930's. And Hitler was able to take those countries without even starting a war. The nation that allows its military to deteriorate while it's leaders and citizens pontificate on the beauty of peace is in grave danger.
That's what makes me sick about the anti-war crowd. They have absolutely no historical perspective. "We don't like war because it kills people!" They are spitting on a military which exists for the sole purpose of protecting them. I believe this is an affront to the thousands of men and women who have died to protect the place these gutless hippies live and their freedom to do it in. Why, when firefighters are killed in a building collapse, don't they clamor for all fire departments to be dismantled? It's rather obvious from this example that you can't do that, as if you did everything would burn to the ground. But I tell you this: soldiers are even more necessary for the survival of a nation than fire fighters, and yet there are so many people in our nation that hate them.
