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Disclaimer: I was in the Navy during the Vietnam era. My military career NEVER took me in harm's way.

During my youth (age 16 - 25) I had this philosophy of life that suggested that war protesters (pacifists as we called them in those days)could be as sincere in their beliefs as I was in mine. I thought the war effort in Vietnam was honorable and worthy in goal (even though the Presidents who led the effort really had no goals in it). Surely the military effort to keep a people free from the pure evil and slavery that is communism was an honorable effort.

I no longer am so sure I buy any of my former philosophy. I confess to being completely bewildered as to what is the goal of pacifists these days - for that matter - any day when the conflict is between evil and decency. What are they seeking?

It seems to me that the only thing they want is to save their own necks. There can be no argument they are caring only for "mankind" whatever that is. "Mankind" has alrady spoken. It has said that we have no right to live, and others mean to gain heaven by killing us. I might argue further that some people, such as the Israelis, have already carried the point of this conflict for a good long time.

In addition, in this struggle there isn't anyone to go see, with whom to reason. Maybe if these "pacifists" could convince me there is some way to "reason" through this, I might regain some understanding.

For now, I can't quell this thought that anyone who can watch evil exist, grow and thrive without trying to stop it, or at least supporting those that attempt to stand athwart the evil, well, such people are cowards. It seems they think they can keep their own worthless lives going for one more day if they just say no to the fight. Then they assume some superior mantle by saying they just want to stop the madness. How does what they do stop the madness? Laden wants them just as dead as he wants me.

It's nauseating, as are these people.

STOP THE MADNESS! NO JUSTICE NO PEACE!

WARNING: Violent Graphics

Link to:

DIPLOMACY: KUMBAYA - Peace Vigil

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I don't think it's cowardice. I think these people are deeply troubled by the idea of any absolute morality or objective standards of right and wrong; such things are a repudiation of what they've always believed -- that we are adrift in a world without any real standards, that it is impossible to judge anyone for anything. Of course, they necessarily judge others by imposing their relativism on others, but they are blind to this hypocrisy.

Ref your #5: These people are not only cowards (they don't want to defend what they've got--they expect someone else to do it for them), but they are also, in and of themselves, evil because they refuse to consider/do anything to stop evil.