Thousands Mourn Britain’s Oldest Warrior
Quoting Harry Patch, who died at age 111 last month:"Too many died,” he said, late in life, of the estimated 900,000 Britons killed in the conflict. “War isn’t worth one life.” He called war “the calculated and condoned slaughter of human beings,” Britain’s Press Association news agency said.
I think I agree with this.
Henry
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6 comments:
I think I do, too. I think...
I agree as well. Funny enough I just had this discussion about war and religion with some Jehovas witnesses that came to my door on Tuesday. They asked me if mormons go to war... hm...
You should have told them we are at war right now with the devil and his angels. See what they would have to say about that.
H
I actually don't 100% agree that all war isn't good. Someone had to keep the Germans from taking over the world.
Actually, too often I think we go to war because of government and political interests. Historically, European fighting always seemed to center around some crazy prince wanting more territory or familial squabbling. Vietnam was a disaster. How much of the war in Iraq was actually due to oil interests?
It feels that war against terrorism is a more honorable cause, but even still it seems like we only go to war when it interests our economy (oil?).
All I'm really saying is the cause really has to be just for me to even consider going to war. On top of that, I don't know how I could even bring myself to kill someone. There was a really profound scene in the movie Saving Private Ryan where the one soldier can't bring himself to kill anyone and it ultimately costs him the life of his friend. That's a movie I recommend everyone to watch once. It really gets you thinking about the choices one faces in warfare and whether or not the fighting is worth it.
Though I am not 100% opposed to war. It should be considered a last resort and not hastily entered.
Henry
P.S. I like that the pall bearers were from both sides of WWI. I also liked that the weapons were barred from the ceremony.
And what would have been wrong with the Germans taking over the world, huh?
Just kidding. I do think in some instances we need to fight. I think at times we have to defend ourselves, our freedom, our wives and children etc. There are things worth dying for. But, I don't think we see that very often today. I definitely think war is taken far too lightly these days, and we rush into wars like it's nothing. Also, I think a lot of wars, as mentioned are totally fought for the wrong reasons. Actually, I don't think a war is ever justified unless it's in defense to protect yourself, your freedom, your family.
The US at times liked to start a war for reasons of spreading freedom and democracy etc. While I think freedom is something worth dying for, I don't think it's something worth killing for. I don't think we have the right to interfere somewhere, where people of their own free will have not chosen yet to die to be free. I don't think we have the right to go in and 'make them free'. You can't force such things. The mind set has to change first, before true freedom can take place anyway.
I think one fascinating thing about East Germany was that not only did political thing change to allow a change in the system, and freedom to commence, but people themselves were tired and willing to do whatever it took to be free. Germans would try and escape East Germany, even though a few got killed. As a collective, they were tired and fed up and wanted to be free. They were willing to die for it, and some did. And then freedom came, and it could take root, because people were ready. When you just force it on a people who're not ready, you're not accomplishing anything. And you're killing people for nothing.
War is a truly horrible thing. And while it may be impossible to avoid it at all times, it sad how eagerly we seem to embrace it at times.
I am laughing because, when no one disagreed with Henry's post, he jumped on the other side to argue the benefits of war.
There is the way one talks about war before raising teenagers and the way one talks about it afterward...another reason why everyone should read Hitler's Youth. It isn't really about Germany, that book. It is about how easily power comes into the hands of the few and how that power swoops down and steals our children and deceives them into its purpose.
An old saying is true. Prevention is the best cure.
For me the warnings of the Book of Mormon scream at me. If a country is not rid of secret combinations, destruction will follow. Secret combinations enter when a people becomes filled with pride; and the seed of pride is contention. After the foothold of evil is in place, the BoM warns, some things can only be removed by the shedding of blood.
In certain times and under certain conditions I would definitely go to war. I do agree that war is hell, however. Probably anyone who has served in battle would agree.
I believe that the freeing of East Germany was a miracle and a gift to people of great faith. That was a momentous day in my life.
I think that war can be a game with the prideful powerful in charge, thoughtlessly disposing of the invisible foot soldiers to secure their power and to reinforce their pride. There is too much lightly entered war today. And, from what I heard from that ret. general last year, Afghanistan is probably the most foolish of all. We'll be in it for no purpose for 20 years, wasting lives and money we could use to help the needy.
On that cheery note, adieu.
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