Do you want your child to die fighting in Iraq?(reply to this pacifist question)

Capitalism Magazine ^ | Nov. 9, 2002 | Joseph Kellard

[John Lenin]

You my friend are a moron and need to be banned.

[Greybird]

I'll one-up your Kippled thoughts. For every supposed paean to war that the man penned (and I think you're missing the ironic twists that decry war in what you've posted), there's something such as this, where his stand is unmistakable against the abuse of power.

Young men and women -- soon, conscripts, if Bill Kristol and Richard Perle have their way -- are going to die in large numbers. And the "Holy People's Will" is not made legitimate by two-thirds of the Congress giving George Bush imperial authority.

---

MacDonough's Song

Whether The People can loose and bind
    In heaven as well as on earth;
If it be better to kill mankind
    Before or after the birth;
These are matters of high concern
    Where State-kept schoolmen are;
But Holy People, we've lived to learn,
    Endeth in Holy War.

Whether The People are led by the Lord
    Or lured by the loudest throat;
If it be quicker to die by the sword
    Or cheaper to die by the vote;
These are things we have dealt with once,
    And they will not rise from their grave;
But Holy People, however it runs,
    Endeth in wholly Slave.

Whatsoever for any cause
    Seeketh to take or give
Power above and beyond The Laws,
    Suffer it not to live!
Holy State-- or Holy King--
    Or Holy People's Will--
Have no truck with the senseless thing.
    Order the guns and kill!

Saying -- after -- me --

Once there was The People,
    Terror gave it birth.
Once there was The People
    And it made a hell of earth.
Earth arose and crushed it;
    Listen, oh ye slain!
Once there was The People,
    It shall never be again!

[infowarrior]

I too, must these days rely on the next generation of my family to stand in the breach, in harm's way, for the benefit of us all. It is not an easy feeling at all. Still I wish them all, yours, mine, and the family acroos the street's, God speed, stay safe, and do your duty...

the infowarrior

[John Locke]

Thank you for your contribution, and for posting that great poem (from "As easy as ABC", isn't it).

Yes, Kipling hated war. But he recognised that it was sometimes necessary, and the Great War (during which the poem I posted was written) was one such time.

From the names you mention, I think we agree on at least one key point. If Americans are going to fight and die, it must only be for the vital national interests of the USA. And we all know for whose national interest the likes of Kristol, Pearle, and Wolfowitz would prefer them to die. I believe George Bush is too wise, and too honorable, to let that happen.

[xm177e2]

This type of question is one of the subtle, insidious ways by which pacifists try to undercut the war against Islamic terrorists

There's nothing subtle about it!

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

We don't want to see our children or grandchildren die for any reason, and in modern war, as practiced by the United States, most of the dying is done by the enemy. This misses the point, however. There is an acceptable level of death while performing in the defense of society

Rigth on, this is exactly correct. A democratic nation should do everything possible to avoid war except compromise its security (to be read appeasement). This is exactly what we are doing with Iraq. All the steps have been taken to make the choice up to Saddam. We have given him the chance to no longer be a threat. If he remains a threat we will be compelled for the sake of our own security to eliminate that threat.

If we fail to do so, we do not preserve peace and save lives. We merely put off the war into the future when more people will die on both sides.

[Caipirabob]

Good article. I have to admit in my pre-caffinated state of mind I had already prepared a "flame" in response to the title - LOL!

[Junior]

"Do you want your child to die fighting in Iraq?"

We have an all-volunteer military, and if my kid were old enough and joined, well, in the immortal words of Superchicken, he "knew the job was dangerous when [he] took it, Fred."

I'm a Naval Reservist. I've spent 15 years on active duty or in the Reserves and I have no problem with putting my life on the line in a war with Iraq. Indeed, this will be the first military action in the last decade I feel is worth dying in -- for the first time in a decade we're defending America's interests (which is what I signed on for), not some squishy international meals-on-wheels operation that has no lasting effect and won't be remembered a century from now.

[DAnconia55]

You my friend are a moron and need to be banned.

Could we stop the ideological editing please?
Just leave people with different opinions alone.

You're proving his point.

[billhilly]

Thank you for your reply. I took the time to look at your profile and the first few lines jumped out at me. Just a few minutes ago I read a post on FreeRepublic quoting Tom Daschle saying the democrats in the senate will be able to block oil drilling in ANWAR, even after the republicans assume control.

[Howlin]

Precisely.

[Howlin]

All the steps have been taken to make the choice up to Saddam.

And that, my friends, is the answer to ALL who ask "Why are we even talking to the United Nations?"

You guys get the "big picture."

[AmericanInTokyo]

Moderator: Can we rename this thread and add on the words,

"OR, 'DID YOU STOP BEATING YOUR WIFE'?"

[Howlin]

That would work just as well, IMO.

Have these people had an original thought in 100 years? It's ALWAYS the same thing, over and over.

[HamiltonJay]

"Do you want your child to die fighting in Iraq?"

I cannot think of any parent who will ever say to any question of the like "do you want your child to die doing xxxx..." Let's face facts generally no parent wishes their child to die by any means other than old, happy and in their sleep... but life is not simply about what we want. That is a foolish greedy game of narcisim only the most naive would ever propose.

Do I want my child to die via a violent end in the deserts of Iraq? Of course not. Do I want to die a painful violent end in the deserts of Iraq? Of course not... but would I die a violent and painful end in the deserts of Iraq to keep the arab nutballs from getting Nukes? Yes, I would, and I am raising a family that will share those same values.

There are causes and purposes that are larger than ourselves. Thank God most american's understood that in the teens, 40s and 50s. It was only when the self centered overprivileged baby boomers came along that the vaseline blurred vision started to appear. The men and women who fought in WWII and grew up in the depression decided to lavish upon their children opportunity they never had, and who could blame them? Unfortunately they produced a far too large number of overpriveleged brats who think and can see nothing farther than the noses on their own faces.

So, do I want my child to die on a battlefield half a world away? No.... Would I expect him to not fight if the stakes truly were the safety of his own children and country? I know for a fact I have raised children who would go without hesitation.

I always find it amusing, that generally speaking the people asking these types of questions, have no kids.

[Darnright]

"Just a few minutes ago I read a post on FreeRepublic quoting Tom Daschle saying the democrats in the senate will be able to block oil drilling in ANWAR, even after the republicans assume control."

Have you ever looked at Daschle's history? How he became involved in politics? Not too long ago, World Magazine did an article on him. He started as an aid to a politician from SD, who was the first Lebanese to serve in Congress. This guy (and I can't remember his name just now) was the most pro-Middle East individual in Congress.

I am not surprised Daschle will stop at nothing to prevent the US from losing its dependence on Middle East oil.

[Inkie]

Do they ever ask, "Do/did you want your child to die in the World Trade Center?" These people make me sick.