are you a pacifist?

[Rising Phoenix]

[billyskank]

1. Not quite

Depends, I suppose. I know some people say pacifists think there should be no fighting, full stop. If that is so, then I am not a pacifist. I do not criticise soldiers for being violent, because that is part of the proper execution of their duty. Wars happen, though it is important not to start them. But I do believe in nonviolence: I will not harm another creature without need. Even if I do not like them.

[Rising Phoenix]

2. I agree with you

I do not blame solders for doing their job....however, unless in self defense....I don't believe in violence of any kind

[skygazer]

3. I'm not fond of war

And as a student of history, I think its pretty well evident that every war that's been fought could have been prevented in one way or another.

That said, I do feel there are times when the situation becomes one where wars need to be fought. I would prefer that not to happen and I'm a firm supporter of working on issues to avoid those situations.

I guess what I feel is that pacifism is a wonderful concept but I question whether the human race is capable of attaining it. Not a very satisfactory answer, huh? :(

[pokerfan]

18. I thought it was an interesting answer

There are no just wars?

How about WWII? Either the ETO or the PTO.

[skygazer]

24. I didn't say there were no just wars

I did say that virtually all of them could have been prevented. WWII is a prime example - it was the direct result of the end of WWI, the Versailles Treaty which initiated a series of events that led to the rise of Hitler. That could have been foreseen - in fact, it was foreseen by quite a few people of the time. However, the desire for retribution was too strong and Germany was socked with a lot of very harsh terms that it could not possibly meet. That fostered resentment and, with the worldwide depression that followed, desperation.

Desperation leads people to support people like Hitler.

You can't look at any war in a vacuum. Looked at only from the lens of 1939 on, of course WWII would be considered a "just" war. But it didn't really start in 1939 - it started long before then, just as the Civil War started when the Founding Fathers decided NOT to abolish slavery.

edited to add - this is what I mean by those situations where one has to fight. It would have been a crime NOT to oppose Hitler.

[Guava Jelly]

4. nope

But i have a long fuse.
So long it normally gives me time to stomp it out before it explodes

[jobycom]

5. Yes. nt

[Ghost in the Machine]

6. Not just no, but HELL NO!!

Sometimes violence is all some people understand. They have a short somewhere in their brain that doesn't allow them to see or understand logic and/or compromise. They are bound and determined to fight, and you literally have to beat the hell out of them to resolve anything.

I worked as a bouncer in a biker bar for 6 years full time & 2 years part time. I found through experience that you can reason with 99% of the people and avoid violent confrontation, but there's just that 1% that you have to beat the shit out of, no matter what you try to do otherwise. It sets an example for the other 99%, too...

[pitohui]

17. yes it's that stupid 1 % that spoils it all for everyone

the overwhelming majority of people are decent but there's that hard core of people who are just evil, for lack of a better word

you won't stop them from raping your dog by asking nicely, you stop them from raping the dog by sticking a shotgun in their ear

(not entirely hypothetical, yes, i knew a creep who raped a dog! his sister's dog! can you imagine?)

[SPKrazy]

7. nope

I believe in the right to defend yourself and your country.

I'm a believer in the principle of "just war"

Pacifism is not me. I begrudge no one for having pacifist beliefs, in fact I admire them in a way, I just don't.

[YankeyMCC]

8. No

Maybe I come damn close but, no I could not be called a pacifist.

[struggle4progress]

Nope but I is purdy close to it an I'll smeck ya in yer schnoz if ya gimme crap about it

[Mojambo]

9. Not strictly, but whenever possible. n/t

[trof]

10. No. I'm a gulf of mexicoist.

[SPKrazy]

12. more of a carribeanist myself

or an Atlanticist

or

:yoiks:

[trof]

13. HOMIE!

Well....close, anyway.

[undeterred]

11. Yes.

Except verbally.

[Downtown Hound]

14. Not in the strictest definition of the term

I don't like to fight, and I always favor diplomacy in the realm of international affairs over military force. But sometimes self defense is necessary, and it's perfectly okay in my book. I've been in fights in my life, and I don't regret doing what I did.

[Generic Brad]

15. Absolutely, I am

And I will kick anyone's ass who says otherwise.

[BlooInBloo]

16. Fighting should be the last option. To pacifists, it's NO option. So, no, I'm not.

[Critters2]

19. I am, theoretically. I'm just not very good at it. nt

[krispos42]

20. No, I'm peaceful.

I support people that find it necessary to use violence to defend themselves against aggression. I believe that a peaceful civilization must retain an edge of controlled violence in order to maintain that peace. I believe that those that beat their swords into plowshares will wind up plowing for those that didn't.

But none of that supports either instigating violence or seeking it out.

[enigmatic]

21. Mostly

Before I discovered Buddhism, no. Afterwords, yes, though I've had my (very few) moments.

[Danger Mouse]

22. I am rather close.

I despise war. Any war. Even the 'good' wars, because inevitably innocent people will be killed either way.
However, I acknowledge that some wars need to be fought. It is an unfortunate state of affairs, and I would rather that it were not so.
How about you?
:hug:

[DarkTirade]

23. I believe the only acceptable violence is defense.

Not sure if that qualifies me as a pacifist or not.

[av8rdave]

25. I am not a pacifist. HOWEVER...

Too often war has been used as just another instrument of foreign policy. That is so wrong. There are situations that justify war - as an absolute last resort when your population or nation are at imminent risk. Nothing short of that justifies it.