I'm anti-war, but I like military history- Am I alone here?

[Beware the Beast Man]

I've always had an interest in World War I, and now, after repeated viewings of Band of Brothers, I'm starting to become a WWII buff as well. Not to mention I'm becoming a big fan of "Mail Call." Does anyone else here reconcile being a dove and a military history fan?

[Leprechan29]

1. Not Alone

I'm more of a WWII guy, but for the most part (barring necessity) anti-war

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. I wouldn't consider myself hawk nor dove,

yet, I am fascinated by military history. The strategies involved are amazing, and are worthwhile to study even for just an intellectual pursuit.

[Oggy]

3. I'm there with you

My rationale, is if we don't know about history we will be condemned to repeat mistakes. Band of Brothers I thought was pretty good from that viewpoint. You don't watch it and think, Gee war is great, you watch it and think war is shit. What is Mail Call?

[Beware the Beast Man]

18. "Mail Call" is a show on the History Channel here in the US

Hosted by R. Lee Ermey, the guy who played Sgt. Hartman in "Full Metal Jacket" (and a real life former Marine drill instructor). Every week people send in e-mail asking about militray gadgets and the like, and he demonstrates how they were used. Good show.

[Oggy]

35. thanks for that

I'll look to see if it is on the UK version of the history channel.

[lovedems]

4. I love military history.

But I come from a long line of family who fought in major battles (My grandfather survived Iwo Jima). We have WW2 "memorabilia" in our attic from my grandfather and great grandfather (who was a part of Pattons Third). I always want to know the story behind the items we have and the general history of the war.

I have Band of Brothers on DVD and I have watched it several times. Damn if that movie didn't touch me in a way that I didn't think possible.

No, you are not alone!

[DarkPhenyx]

5. Probably not alone.

Are you against all war, or just this one and some of the more useless exercises of military might we've engaged in?

[Beware the Beast Man]

15. No I am not anti-all war

If the cause is just...after 911, I was not opposed to using force to capture terrorists, but IMO, the admin. has gone about it all wrong. The War on Terror is should not be a string of military engagements, it should be a war using intelligence and policing. Then again, I don't think Bush's true intention is to end terrorism; I think he's just trying to give a profit boost to his buddies in the military-industrial complex.

[DarkPhenyx]

So like me then...

...you aren't anti-war per se, you are anti-stupidity.

No, you aren't alone.

[King Of Paperboys]

6. Interesting that you note Band Of Brothers,

Stephen Ambrose, who wrote it (and was no slouch as a military historian,) never served in the military and protested the war in Viet Nam. It caused quite a rift with his own brothers, both of whom were veterans.

[Fenris]

7. Not at all.

If one does not understand the wars of the past, one cannot have opinions on the wars of the present.

/historian

EDIT: grammar Nazi

[NoPasaran]

8. You are not alone

I am a major Civil War buff. Battlefield walking: that's my idea of a vacation.

[Avonrepus]

11. Yea I'm anti-war

But am interested in WW2, Cold War and Medieval Warfare. Hoorah get to study the War of the Roses for my history degree model next spring.

[Scooter24]

9. It's an interesting subject...

I am currently reading stories from the 1700-civil war time frame...quite fascinating.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

10. Nope. Me too.

[Az]

12. Nope, my journey into philosophy started with pursuit of military history

More specifically tactics. I decided to read Machiavelli's The Prince. This book left me so negatively charged that I had to find something to counter it. This lead me to Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Fascinating read. I found out that Sun's tactics were based in part on Taoist principles and thus started my little journey.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. Not alone. Sadly, human history is a history of war.

And to know us, and to know how to be better people, studying war and war history is a good and helpful thing.

And even beyond the pragmatic goodness of knowing war history, it IS incredibly fascinating, reading about tactics and ideas and how they do or do not work depending on freak happenings of weather, supply shortages, espionage, etc. I find it all very fascinating, especially WWII.

[ewagner]

14. Not alone

I was a Naval Aviation history buff fronm early on but my interests have expanded to most military history.

What I find so fascinating about military history (and non-military too for that matter) is how the actions of a single individual, often insignificant individual, can change the course of a battle, a war or even the course of history.

In a sense, the great conflicts of our time have shaped and defined our society. It's worth studying IMHO.

[russian33]

16. I wouldn't say I'm 100% anti-war...

..but definetly anti-this war, Bush's war...I mean Tuesday was 63 years since Germany rolled thru and crushed everything in their way in Belorussia, and further on...so that was a necessary war...

I'm always interested in history of wars, WWII in particular, as I had grandparents who fought in it, but also medieval wars, especially ones that involve France/England/Spain...

[bif]

17. I majored in Midieval history

And that's pretty much studying one major war after another. I also enjoy reading about WWII.

[Loonman]

19. WWI, WWII, Vietnam and ancient warfare

Naval warfare and Medieval warfare.

[GainesT1958]

20. Nope, you're definitely NOT alone!

I, too, am a military history buff--especially of WWII history. I'm against glorifying war in ANY way, but I'm all for giving the glory where it's due--to the bravery and heroism of those who fought.

You've NOTHING to hang your head about for being a military history buff, believe me!:D

B-)

[GOPisEvil]

21. My minor in college was history, I took a lot of military history courses.

I find it fascinating.

[Solly Mack]

22. Not alone. I have a degree in Military History

It's only an AA. I took the military history program at the local college on post (army post). The post college is only geared toward AA's and will not accept any former schooling that is more than 10 years old. But hey...it's free.

I suppose I could bother to convert some credits at one of the local colleges in town and see what, if any, new classes I would have to take.

[BigMcLargehuge]

23. Welcome to the club :)

and we're glad to have you.

I too enjoy a deep interest in The Great War, though within the last two years my interest in military history has focused almost exclusively on the second Sino-Japanese War that led into the Pacific theater of WW2.

I take my lunch hour to watch Nation to Nation on History International, and all of the books I've read in the last two years are military history books. I can't imagine doing the sort of reasearch I've done AND being someone "pro" war...

To be pro war historian is an anethema to logic.

I have the DVD set of Band of Brothers, but I haven't watched it yet. I singificantly limit my fiction intake when writing, and I am writing a historical novel set during The Rape of Nanking, and since it follows two Japanese soldiers from Yokohama to mainland China, I don't want to accidentally coopt narrative devices from other sources. I am looking forward to watching it once I complete this draft.

As for documentaries, have you seen "The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century"? It aired a few years ago around Veterans Day on PBS and was absolutely riveting.

[Beware the Beast Man]

25. I'm reading the companion book right now

And unfortunately, like some of the PBS documentaries/companion books, it's somewhat condensed.

[BigMcLargehuge]

27. I begged Mrs. McLargehuge for the series and companion book

some years ago... sadly we never had the cash. I guess I am better off for not having it if it isn't as comprehensive as the documentary was.

[Beware the Beast Man]

24. Thanks, all

Cool to see so many of you respond...well I got my BA in History, so the study of war is pretty much inevitable. I see a common thread in all your responses: that war is an ugly fact of life, yet the art of war itself is pretty fascinating. Also, as the cliche goes, if we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.

[ElectroPrincess]

26. Nope, I've held a military or military dependent's card my

entire life. My father was in Combat Engineers (WWII), my older brother in Infantry (Vietnam) and myself in Military Intelligence (Cold War Era 81-85).

I love the military and military science. Among my immediate neighbors are two Active Duty pilots. Across the street is a younger family whose husband is active duty USMC. And a few doors down is a Government Puke contractor working a US Marine Corps Base, Quantico.

It's a little lonely since only two military spouses are Democrats but there's more than one would think looking in from the outside. My husband was only 1 of 3 men in his Officer Candidate School (OCS) class in at Quantico MCB to *admit* that he voted for Jimmy Carter.

Yes, the officer corps tends to be more conservative because it's career minded. However, I sense grumblings even with the men (AD officers) through their spouses chit-chat.

Second to Rumsfeld, George Bush has taken major hits to his character and integrity in the eyes of senior NCOs and Officers, i.e., the career military. They (my neighbors I've become acquainted with) are genuine conservatives (pro-small business & gov't). Bush is acting like a Neo-Con. Big difference and the career military are not ignorant. ;)

On edit: Love military history? Hell yes, I'm part of it. lol Seriously, I enjoy reading historical sources addressing WWII and Viet Nam. For my undergraduate thesis, I studied the culture and philosophy of torture techniques on USA prisners during the Vietnam Conflict.

If any civilian honestly wishes to understand the horrors of war, I'd recommend a non-fiction paperback, "All Quiet on the Western Front." That will give you a *feel* for the ultimate example of terrorism = war.

I've rethought my philosophy on warfare and have been an active member of Veterans for Peace for two years.

http://www.veteransforpeace.org

[DerekG]

28. Not history--but this pacifist loves the Lord of the Rings!

I abhor violence, and yet the campaigns at Helms Deep, Minas Tirith, and the Black Gates are euphoric experiences for me. Odd, for my life-style permits me from enjoying martial-centered pieces such as Henry V, but the books and films centering on Tolkien's world manages to override this....

[ElectroPrincess]

31. Gosh, forgive me - but not enough action in Lord OT Rings

My FAV movies are "The Boys of Company C", "The Boys from Brazil", "The Wild Geese", "The Dirty Dozen," "A Bridge too Far", "Tora Tora Tora," "Apocalypse Now" among others.

For those who adore the horse's ass who plays that "mail call" Sergeant, please remember what happened to his character in Full Metal Jacket? Yeah, "Private Pyle" (recruit who he shamelessly dogged through Marine Basic Camp) blew his sh*t away because always behaving like an asshole is hazardous to your health. :-)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

29. I'm anti-war, and I'm interested in military history...

Just like the guys said, it's fascinating. And Mail Call is the BEST show. Skip, the bf, LOVES it. R Lee is hysterical. Anyway, I'm anti this war, and anti stupidity, but I do believe WW2 needed to be fought. But this war is just completely full of stupid mistakes, like for one it ever starting in the first place.
Duckie

[Solly Mack]

33. R. Lee Ermey is a puke in real life

He "performed" in Iraq while my husband was there. His entire shtick was bashing liberals, Jane Fonda, and Barbra Streisand.

My husband thought the show *might* be interesting so he headed over to the "hall", only to hear some of the program before he got to the entrance. He promptly turned around and left.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

37. Damn, I hate to hear that.

Mail Call is a great show. It just sucks he's such an idiot.
Duckie

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

30. Does an intense love of WWII fighter models count?

Toys toys toys! :bounce:

[DinahMoeHum]

32. Join the club, BTBM. My tastes run to naval history. . .

both real (World War II) and fictional (Horatio Hornblower-Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin).


:kick:

[No2W2004]

34. If you don't have any understanding

of war, then in my opinion, you're left with the sanitized "Fux News" version where no one gets killed and people never see the coffins comming back from battle. If you are against war, you should know what you're protesting.

[lazarus]

36. I'll add my voice

I used to be a big WWII buff, but tired of it, since everyone else is into it.

The Civil War, same thing. So I picked WWI. Now I'm upset there aren't enough books!

I also enjoy reading about medieval warfare. It's all very fascinating to me.

I'm anti-stupid-war. The occasional "good war" is inevitable, i.e. taking out the Nazis, that sort of thing.

[LynneSin]

38. Maybe it's your love of Military History that makes you anti-war

Think about it

[Forkboy]

39. Same here

Some of my favorite movies is Das Boot,Stalingrad,Patton etc.


And my favorite type of game is wargames like Rising Sun,Combat Mission etc. :shrug: I think it's the strategic angle that appeals to me more than anything with the games.