re: “There are worse fates than death. Avoiding war at all costs leads to them.”
I agree, however I don’t thank Allendale was advocating pacifism. I think he is referring to WW1 as to the point of all the death and destruction. What was accomplished by that war? What were the causes that were affirmed by it?
I see the cause and need for the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, WW2, the war on terror, etc., but World War 1? I appreciate the fact that we entered the war and ended it, but as to Europe’s causes for it? It just looked like a small tragic event in Serbia that led to this huge, catastrophic war will millions of deaths and for what?
The bravery of the soldiers is unquestioned. But, the cause for which the Europeans fought each other over is very “iffy” and vague (at least to me).
Exactly. Pacifism ultimately leads to the obliteration of any culture that embraces it. However the catastrophic genetic losses suffered in Europe between 1914-1945, have forever changed Europe and Western culture. Leaders must carefully reflect on the consequences of sending young people into battle. There are not only deaths, but life long physical and emotional consequences. There is also the devastation to surviving colleagues and family members. World War I was a needless carnage and led directly to World War II. Churchill famously commented that the world never seemed quite right after World War I. He was right.