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#Post#: 21--------------------------------------------------
Who Benefits from War?
DIR By: RobertLonie
Date: July 8, 2012, 5:44 pm
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Today's Topic: War, What is it Good For?
War is ugly. War is a human invention. That's not to say
other animals don't fight. But, you seldom see a herd of zebras
charge a pride of lions. Wars are started with the premise that
one side will gain at the cost of another. Many events can set
these sides against each other. Often, the true goal of a war is
masked behind religion or national pride. Citizens on either
side get caught up in rhetoric and emotion.
Essentially wars are fought over power and wealth. One side
wants power over another's land and people to enrich their own.
Even the American Revolution was fought over this type of
dispute. The King of England wanted to control the people in the
colonies. The people in the colonies wanted the power to govern
themselves. Of course, you can't build a new country without
land. Where would your new citizens live? Personally, I am glad
the United States came out on top.
In today's world, however, there is a third party involved
in war. Countries in a free market society do not own the
weapons manufacturers. Nor, do they own the construction and
logistics corporations used during and after an invasion. No
matter which side wins, both will spend money on weapons and
rebuilding. Businesses providing these necessary services are
who actually profit. The countries waging war pay for these
manufacturers and contractors through the taxation of their
citizens.
Contrary to popular belief, this does not make these
corporations evil. They are merely providing products and
services. While it's true the CEO's of these corporations are
paid outrageous salaries, the companies employ thousands of
people. Some of these people may be your friends or neighbors.
They may do business with your companies, thus keeping you
employed.
I am not trying to say we all benefit from war. The
opposite is true. We all lose. Innocent civilains lose their
lives, and their livelihood. We all lose a bit of our humanity
through war. We become desensitized to the horrible events which
take place. As an example, a little over a year ago, a man was
shot and most of us Americans cheered his demise. This man was a
despicable human responsible for thousands of deaths. He
fomented hate and bloodshed. It is easy to say the world is
better off without him.
However, one of the principles fought for in the American
Revolution is a right to be tried in a court of law. We bypass
this tenet in the name of war. We give up these parts of our
humanity for what? Do we feel safer knowing governments are
allowed to enter a man's home and kill him? It has been reported
the President of the United States has authorized a list of
people deemed unworthy of life. Just another cost of war.
Benefits come at a cost. Before going to war, we should
examine these costs. I believe the world has been enriched
greatly since those plucky revolutionaries stood up against
tyranny by going to war. It's important to remember why they
chose war as a necessary evil.
#Post#: 22--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who Benefits from War?
DIR By: MumsyLo
Date: July 8, 2012, 6:12 pm
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War is generally for the benefit of a great many at the cost of
a few. It almost always has to do with a tyrant or group of
tyrants that think they should have control of others. Those
that think they should have control are fought off by those that
want their freedom. Whether it is being free to choose their
religion, the ownership of property or simply being able to walk
down the street when they want.
There are people that can come up with all kinds of financial
motivations but it just has to do with a power trip since a
person or group of persons can only use so much of anything in a
life time.
So in the end, all benefit because they fought for what they
believed was right and just. All God gave us was life and every
person has to decide is life worth living in a given situation.
#Post#: 23--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who Benefits from War?
DIR By: Senior
Date: July 8, 2012, 6:18 pm
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War has a binary meaning. Good vs Evil. War is also a
mathematician. It divides people into killing groups, multiplies
unease and fear, adds to the burdens of the people already
saddled with the cost. It subtracts the moral wealth from both
the winners and the losers. Benefits? We casually fabricate
the benefits only to sooth the peoples of the world not yet
sucked into maelstrom of power greedy governments.
Mark Twain did an essay a few years ago. Here is an excerpt:
The Person Sitting in Darkness, we should bring him to again,
and explain them to him. We should say to him:
"They look doubtful, but in reality they are not. There have
been lies; yes, but they were told in a good cause. We have been
treacherous; but that was only in order that real good might
come out of apparent evil. True, we have crushed a deceived and
confiding people; we have turned against the weak and the
friendless who trusted us; we have stamped out a just and
intelligent and well-ordered republic; we have stabbed an ally
in the back and slapped the face of a guest; we have bought a
Shadow from an enemy that hadn't it to sell; we have robbed a
trusting friend of his land and his liberty; we have invited our
clean young men to shoulder a discredited musket and do bandit's
work under a flag which bandits have been accustomed to fear,
not to follow; we have debauched America's honor and blackened
her face before the world; but each detail was for the best. We
know this. The Head of every State and Sovereignty in
Christendom and ninety per cent. of every legislative body in
Christendom, including our Congress and our fifty State
Legislatures, are members not only of the church, but also of
the Blessings-of-Civilization Trust. This world-girdling
accumulation of trained morals, high principles, and justice,
cannot do an unright thing, an unfair thing, an ungenerous
thing, an unclean thing. It knows what it is about. Give
yourself no uneasiness; it is all right." - "To the Person
Sitting in Darkness" an essay by Mark Twain published in 1901
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