Reply #37: Ah, yes. [View All]

[Skidmore]

The proverbial expert on all things and arbiter of morality rises like a phoenix from the ashes of mendacity.

Exactly how many air raids have you sat through? How many war zones have you lived in? How many dictatorships have you lived under? Have you ever lived under martial law? Have you ever served in the military? Do you have relatives who have or who have actually been injured or killed as part of service?

War is not an ideological debate only. It is not an abstract concept or a debate point. It does affect real people's lives, in the zone and out of it. Sometimes the absence of taking a stand perpetuates as much violence as taking a stand. A nation's military is culled from its people. And that is true for all nations.

I speak from experienced living in a nation governed by one of our handpicked strongmen, living under martial law, and surviving a revolution and a war. You haven't lived until you've tried to shelter toddlers during air raids or tried to find adequate supplies to feed your family while on the receiving end of sanctions. You also haven't lived until you've lived in a country where you could not express yourself for fear that those closest to you might report you to authorities and you would be punished for giving voice to your opinion or ideas.

These issues are much more complex than simple black and white judgements allow. At what point do you think it is okay for a people to stand up and fight back? Nonviolent revolution is desirable but not always possible. It works for some peoples and at sometimes, but not always. Egypt's revolution was not completely nonviolent--people lost lives. This nation was not formed by nonviolent overthrow of a tyrant. We fought for self-governance.

When would you take a stand? What make you so certain that your sensibilities serve in all circumstances?