Years ago, I wanted very much to be a pacifist--it was the mood of the times and seemed the only right and proper stance given the horrors of war. I also, being young and naive, bought into the common presuppostion that a perfect world (or what I considered to be a perfect world) was possible in my lifetime, if only other people would think as I thought.
Here is an emotive song from that time that influenced me greatly:
[
www.youtube.com]
Before very long I had found that other people don't necessarily think as I do and, presuppositions or not, there would be no perfect world in my lifetime. I had no option but to study war and learn to fight if I wanted to survive.
'Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.'
There is a comment on the song video from someone, probably an old soldier, who learned the same thing:
'The sad reality is there will always be war: because there will continue to be those who will want to come to your house, your land, your country and rape, kill, enslave,or take your stuff.
Si vis pacem, para bellum (If you desire peace, prepare for war) Publius Flavius Vegetius; Renatus (390 CE)
"Therefore, he who wishes peace, should prepare war; he who desires victory, should carefully train his soldiers; he who wants favorable results, should fight relying on skill, not on chance"I would still like to be a pacifist and love everybody but survival is a far more fundamental need--as it is to most of us.
Something I did learn from all those old soldiers--who, by the nature of still being around to teach, had obviously learned the survival lessons---- was to choose my own battles.
Here's another song from the same Native American singer, and another comment:
'So much pain'
[
www.youtube.com]
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2011 10:08PM by Stoic.