Sabrina+M

All Quiet on the Western Front Get Off the Fence Debate
 * YES  ||   War Should Be Avoided At All Cost   ||   NO   ||
 * Source 1:
 * War is Immoral and Unethical **

- There will always be a few who object to their country joining a war, arguing that it’s immoral and unethical, and they are attacked and accused of being unpatriotic, immoral, naive, and treasonous. -Pacifism: critiques of society's violence. -Killing innocent people is wrong -Life is sacred. (Pacifist’s positions against war or violence generally are based upon the argument that all of life (or just all human life) is sacred, so it is immoral to ever act in a way which would cause the deaths of others). Quite often the reasons for this position are religious in nature, but religious premises involving God or souls are not absolutely required. -Wars can’t achieve political and social goals (“wars are unethical because they hinder rather than help in attaining important ends”.) -Wars risk the future of the human race: the development of nuclear weapons and the improved biological and chemical weapons. Even a single conflict could destroy the human race. -War shouldn’t be a government power: the power to conduct warfare is so immoral that it should perhaps be denied to governments completely. -**Wars of aggression are wrong: some** nation has to initiate the violence and begin the war (there is always an aggressor or someone who has acted immorally). -War is contrary to national self-interest: even those who approve of engaging closely with other nations may object when that engagement involves sending the military to achieve some change through force and violence. "Ethics: Antiwar Arguments That War Is Immoral and Unethical." //Agnosticism / Atheism -//

//Skepticism & Atheism for Atheists & Agnostics//. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. . || || Source 1:
 * God Is Pro-war **

- War is sometimes a necessary option.

-Many present-day pacifists hold Jesus as their example for unvarying peace. But they ignore the full revelation concerning Jesus pictured in the book of Revelation 19, where He is depicted bearing a "sharp sword" and smiting nations, ruling them with "a rod of iron."

- There is indeed a time for war.

-God actually strengthened individuals for war, including Moses, Joshua and many of the Old Testament judges who demonstrated great faith in battle.

- It is apparent that our God-authored freedoms must be defended. -Throughout the book of Judges, God calls the Israelites to go to war against the Midianites and Philistines. Why? Because these nations were trying to conquer Israel, and God's people were called to defend themselves. -President Bush declared war in Iraq to defend innocent people. This is a worthy pursuit. In fact, Proverbs 21:15 tells us: "It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity." -One of the primary purposes of the church is to stop the spread of evil, even at the cost of human lives. If we do not stop the spread of evil, many innocent lives will be lost and the kingdom of God suffers.

- Finally, some might ask, "Doesn't the sixth commandment say, 'Thou shalt not kill?'" Actually, no; it says: "Thou shalt not commit murder." There is a difference between killing and murdering. In fact, many times God commanded capital punishment for those who break the law. -We continue to live in violent times. The Bible tells us war will be a reality until Christ returns. <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">-Until that time, however, Christians must live as Galatians 6:2 instructs: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Falwell, Rev. Jerry. "God Is Pro-war." //A Free Press for A Free People//. Web. 13 Dec.

2011. <http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36859>. || =<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">-War is very expensive. = =<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">-In the past, there was a lot of employment, but only because everyone was sent away to war. = =<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">-Families can be torn apart and people can be made poor and unhappy by war. = Roberts, Russ. “ War Is Bad for Children, Other Living Things, and the Economy.” //Café Hayek — Where//
 * Source 2:
 * War is Bad for Children, Other Living Things, and the Economy **

//Orders Emerge//. History, Stimulus, War, 6 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 Dec. 2011.

<http://cafehayek.com/2010/09/war-is-bad-for-children-other-living-things-and-the-

economy.html>. || || Source 2:
 * Understanding “Pro-War” Republicans **

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">- <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> Most Republicans who support our current wars do so because they are pro-America. <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">-They may believe in a strong national defense, but they do not believe in wars of conquest and occupation. They oppose the anti-war position, not because they like war, but because they dislike those who take issue with the actions of America as a nation no matter what the reason. -They operate from the perspective that our government is good, not because government is good, but because our government is American and America is good. They therefore assume that the actions of our government, including making war, must be good and right actions because they are the actions of an American government. -If the government entered into a war, then it would be impossible for that war not to be undertaken justly and it would be traitorous to oppose it if the government followed to constitution exactly.

“Understanding “Pro-War” Republicans – Blogcritics Politics.” //Blogcritics – News//

//Reviews and Opinion//. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. <http://blogcritics.org/politics/article/understanding-pro- war-republicans/>. ||

Currently, I am opposed to war. It seems like it is a strain on the economy and the government. The people of a country are also greatly affected. I did not find the pro-war arguments to be very convincing, while the anti-war arguments had lots of good points that were backed up by solid facts. The anti-war arguments talk about the effects of war, and that is an important aspect to consider when deciding to support or oppose war. For example, they mentioned nuclear warfare in one article. The potential threat of nuclear warfare is huge. It could destroy the human race. Despite this fact, nothing about nuclear warfare was mentioned by the pro-war articles. I have been influenced to believe that war is not a good idea. This is my stance on the topic of war and whether it should be avoided at all costs.