Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Pacifism

I think am becoming a pacifist. The definition is one who believes any violence is unjustifiable under any circumstances. I am not sure I believe any violence is unjustifiable but between countries, and as a form of rebellion; I think I am there. I might even create an exception if our country were attacked. I might even create and exception if the United Nations voted overwhelmingly in favor.
I think I am not yet a pacifist, but I am becoming one.
In the wars I have seen in my lifetime, Korea, Vietnam, the Six Day War, Yom Kipper War, Granada (was that a war?), Panama, Bosnia, Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq, and so on; what was accomplished? With a few exceptions, like Vietnam, the whole of the countries are not better off. Vietnam is pretty interesting, in that they could be better off having us ‘loose’ and gone.
An interesting thought experiment would be to imagine that war is not an option in the solution of our foreign policy problems. What then become the options available? We could try diplomacy, we could talk about democracy, we could provide aid, and we could build roads and schools. We could open trade avenues and intercultural activities between countries. We could use satellites to open up the Internet to all people so they could see and compare what life is like here versus life there. I suppose we could even recognize that we are not always right and that all people have a right to choose the type of government and economic system they wish.
I guess there are a few other options other than War. But what if another country just won’t listen or doesn’t want our help, or be like us. We could send in the press, and the media, and give them our TV shows until they cry uncle.

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