War

There was a time when I wore a military uniform. I learned to use modern weapons and trained in modern tactics for warfare. I looked forward to putting my training to the test just like a football player looks forward to playing another team after training with a new coach, new equipment and a new rulebook. I actually thought going to war would be a good thing! That’s a view common among many young men, especially those exposed to military culture. The military is a kind of right of passage for many young men. There is something inherent in us that drives us to prove ourselves, to prove that we have become men.

It’s a natural thing for a young man to feel that way. It’s good that there are such young men to fill the ranks of our military. Without a strong military we wouldn’t enjoy the lifestyle that most of us take for granted. It’s an old saying but a true one…Freedom isn’t free.

There are always those who will try and impose their will on others, and they’ll do it with whatever weapons and means are at their disposal. It is a fact of human life that some people don’t respond to diplomacy…the only thing they respond to is greater strength. That makes war necessary sometimes.

Make no mistake…war is the most obscene evil that human beings can engage in. Old soldiers know that even if the young ones don’t…yet. The wholesale murder and maiming of other human beings is what we’re talking about. Those that die in war are far from the only casualties that it causes. It destroys hearts, minds and families in addition to destroying land and property. It has destroyed entire civilizations and generations. No one who’s been in a war has any romantic notions about it. Still sometimes wars must be fought. There is always a bully on the playground that only understands one thing…

The question arises then, what is a justifiable reason for going to war? Contrary to what some believe, a government has no right to dictate to it’s citizenry whom to hate… Governments and dictators have engaged in immoral activities ever since there have been governments. To conquer someone else’s territory is immoral. To go to war to protect the financial interests of some group is also immoral. These are motives based on greed, one of the basest of human drives. What are moral, justifiable reasons then?

To defend ones home and land is not only ones right but ones moral responsibility. To set the oppressed free is also a moral responsibility. In as far I’m concerned, those are the only justifiable reasons to engage in war. Every effort to avoid armed conflict should be exhausted beforehand. The cost should be carefully considered before sending men and women into harms way. Once the decision is made to go to war everything that can be done to insure victory should be done. No expense should be spared in arming and training those who will put their lives on the line.

There is one more thing…the values that our warriors are fighting for should be reflected in their actions and in those of their leaders. To defend human rights by breaking every decent principle of humanity is the kind of hypocrisy that only plants the seeds for future conflicts. Such things are not worthy of a free people and a noble nation.

I am not a pacifist or a warmonger…I’m a realist. I only pray that our leaders are guided by this principle. We should always strive for the noblest of intentions. Every human being is made in the image of the Living God, the ones we send to do the killing, and the ones we intend to kill. We can never take that lightly.