Anti War Does Not Mean "Pro" the Other Side!
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
June 19, 2007 1:52pm CST
While I don't agree with pacifism, I would kill or die to defend anyone's right to be one. If someone is truly morally against war, then the opportunity for "conscientious objector" status should always be available.
However, a lot of people run around calling themselves Pacifists, but they are a mockery of the term.
You aren't a pacifist if you want the U.S. to pull out of a war. You aren't a pacifist if you want one side to win. You aren't a pacifist if you say "I support the troops, but I think we should pull out of Iraq.
You are a pacifist if you are against all sides fighting in a war. You are a pacifist if you would use all peacefull means to stop the fighting, but not insist on a surrender from one side.
A pacifist is a person who is conscientiously against war. If you call yourself a pacifist, but you blame one side for the fighting, you are still taking sides... so you aren't really a pacifist at all.
You're also not a pacifist if you are against a war simply because you don't want to fight in it.
3 people like this
3 responses
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
19 Jun 07
I admire true pacifists..and if I wasn't always pushed into being involved -- and I'd rather not pick sides at ALL, or enjoy a good fight every now and then..I'd be one too. Or try to be, at least.
What really aggravates me is, though, how people think there's only two stances on anything..and there can be varying degrees. It's stupid to just assume that just because someone doesn't think this war is a good thing, or even a right thing is rooting for the 'bad guys' (which depending on the person could be anybody).
Blame and assuming..is stupid. *pokes teh peoples*
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
19 Jun 07
True, some people aren't against war in general, they are just against THIS or THAT war... but most of those people don't call themselves "pacifists".
It's when they demand one side unilaterally pulls out of the war... that's when they have taken sides.
1 person likes this
@nancyrowina (3850)
•
19 Jun 07
I agree there is a lot of misuse of the word pacifist , being anti this one war in Iraq doesn't make you a pacifist. People like Ghandi and his followers were real pacifists, if there were more like them there would be less wars in this world that's for sure.
1 person likes this
@muppetsnap (229)
• Canada
20 Jun 07
I agree. True pacifism is beyond most of us. It requires a far more widereaching committment than simply disliking the violence and killing of war (something one would hope we all do!). It is a simple yet profound decision to refuse to add to the violence in the world, no matter what the cost.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
22 Jun 07
True, a real pacifist is as ready to give his or her life for the cause as a soldier in combat.
