Americans Against America

I am not opposed to the current war and would fight it in if I weren't a middle-aged woman with children at home. However, I understand the mindset of some,not all, anti-war advocates.

My father was anti-war for the most part. As a Christian, he could not see where God would support most wars. They are generally over territory or resources. He opposed our consideration of entry into World War II when it was about China, but he served in the Merchant Marines taking supplies to the British who were trying to defend China. He supported US entry into the European theater after Hitler's atrocities became known. He opposed Korea because he felt ideologies like democracy and communism were best discussed and debated, not fought over. He opposed Vietnam because the government of South Vietnam was so corrupt that he understood why some people would prefer the Viet Cong (though he also opposed the Viet Cong).

My father was not a pacifist. If you came into our house uninvited in the middle of the night, you wouldn't think he was a pacifist. He was no coward. He sailed through front line situations on unarmed Merchant Marine vessels for much of the 30s and 40s, because he believed in the cause.

He was never a war protestor until Vietnam when his nephew, a tail-gunner on a helicopter, was shot and killed. It was at that point that he became convinced that this was a war without purpose that was costing far too many lives. He did not try to prevent my brother, his step-son, from joining and serving however. He saw it as my brother's choice.

My brother, however, returned opposing the Vietnam War because he had seen what our troops were doing there and how we would brutalize a village, burn it to the ground, then retreat to allow the VC to do the same. He had become convinced that Vietnam had nothing to do with winning a war.

As I said, I support the current war effort and I really don't know where my dad would be on it. My brother is opposed because he believes war is never worthwhile. In this, I think he is less honest than my father who realized that sometimes evil flourishes when good men (or nations) do nothing.

Michael Medved has said it best. Pacifism never brings peace. It only brings slavery. What brings peace is a just and successful war. The Perfect example is WW2.

What we face today is the modern day version of WW2 vs Nazism. There is no negotiation possible with evil fanatics. We have to fight and we have to win.

gary fouse
fousesquawk