War Is Sometimes a Necessary Evil, Always a Great Tragedy

I totally agree with you ((Tek)). Totally. I hope we are living in an age now where things will change. But we can't close our eyes to some of the truths you and others have mentioned here.

Isn't is odd how extremists all sound very very similar and potentially threatening?



I'm studying Hindu now (just a beginner) so I have an odd perspective of creation and destruction being intertwined. I'm only studying it though. I'm actually a "part time" Catholic, lol! But I study different religions and respect all kinds. One may have something another may not and it's good to get a rounded view.



I consider leadership faulty at best. The closest we came to peace was by the people and for the people. But power and need for leadership squashed that. Maybe when adults can reach a level of maturity where they don't "need" to be governed or ruled, that we can all live in peace and refuse power struggles. We can find that harmony and have a real reason to call ourselves the most intelligent species on earth.

Hi Tekkamaki,



I respect Morihei Ueshiba very much. His book "The Art of Peace" is one of my favorites. I do believe that war is sometimes a necessary evil. The challenge is to be able to know when it isn't necessary. We trust our leaders. When they decieve us, it's a tragedy. World War II, with Hitler invading Europe and the Japanese sweeping thru Asia, slaughtering millions, I don't see how America had any other choice. Since then though, I think the situation has been different.



We need to study the Art of Peace, I think this is the time. Now, in this age, when we, America, are the strongest of nations. We need to use that strength in a new way. Otherwise, it will keep going on like this. The one in a position of strength has the best chance of changing things, of showing a new way.



I mentioned the story of Issac and Ishmael here, cause really, in my opinion, this old family "feud" is at the center of our present tensions with Islamic extremists. So, if we can somehow figure this out, help the two opposing sides to make peace, I think peace will spread to everyone, potentially.



I'm a Buddhist, of Jewish blood. So I don't believe in the bible, but like everyone else on this planet my life and yours and the future of our children are influenced by these biblical relationships and feuds.



I'm disturbed, to be honest, by fundamentalist Christians who believe we need a third world war, that it is inevitable, that Muslims and Jews hurling nuclear weapons at each other would help to bring Jesus back. Some do believe that. I do not. I don't think we need Armegedon.



What we need is to see one another as sisters and brothers, and to work together for peace, now.

Hi, how's it going? I appreciate seeing the side of those who see in peaceful terms. I'd like to respresent the side of those who have had to fight in the wars, who had that choice to go to war. Just for the sake of rounding a good perspective out. Maybe we might find some answers? Or not? Worth a try.



War in itself is feuding. Killing with no defense is genocide. In order for there to be a war, there has to be opposing sides. In order for it not to be genocide, there has to be a force that will do whatever it takes (it's not always just weapons and bombs, its strategy and conquering the mind)



I know this is splitting hairs about how a recent war could have been avoided if we waited or pushed for more of an investigation. I can see that point but I can also speak from another point. There would be NO investigation given the stance that would not be given up or negotiated. The fact of the matter is-the heavy combat of war that lasted under 50 days was to be as quick as possible with little fatalities of innocent blood of innocent people.



Wars are more in the mind than through the body. War is one of the most sophisticated barbaric parts of humanity. It's easy to say its ignorance and hatred but there's much more to this concept than meets the eye.



The military does things in quiet and in secret to secure your freedom to breathe, to live, to seek happiness. Yet "A job well done is a job no one has to worry about or will ever know about".



In the mind of a dictator-he was never going to back down. He knew no other way to rule than by fear and torture as well as keeping his people uneducated.



War is not black and white. It is not always kill or be killed. How is a war won? That's where it gets to be very complicated. It's not numbers or who is left standing or even who is the scarier of the two.



I always say, I've never met an honorable soldier that said "I went over there to kill". They look me in the eyes with the deepest and sincerest of intent and say, I went over there to stop the killing. It's not just an eye for an eye. Not in the slightest. They are the most contradicting peace keepers out there with the hugest task on their shoulders. Why did I call them peace keepers? It's the weirdest thing you might ever hear but walk a mile in one of these people's shoes. You'll know. God, you will know. But in reality, no one will ever understand that lonely road they walk.



Morihei Ueshiba was a great warrior and a great peace keeper. The art of Aikido is still a form of martial arts but it mainly counter attacks and avoids the most physical harm on an opponent, not just attacks. This is the most intelligent way to fight a war. That's how wars are won.

Hi ((Awakening)). :^)



I think Ishmael and Issac were half brothers, Silver, since they both have the same father. So the blood of Abraham runs thru the bodies of all Arabs and Jews. The blood of Abraham is spilled as well, whenever Arabs or Jews kill one another. And while some Arabs and Jews do hate each other, Angel, not all do. I think fear is a bigger problem actually for most Arabs and Jews, then hatred.



Of course, even more important then Abraham, there is God, known as Allah by Muslims. Allah means God though, just like the word amigo in Spanish means friend.



We are all ONE at that level, as *Dee* said. We are all children of God, children of Allah. To not see that is a kind of delusion. To not see it and then throw bombs at one another is a horrible tragedy.

Brother of my heart/soul... wise beyond our time... may we meet on some plane if not this one.. (((((loves you))))

We are all the family of mankind. Everyone and everything is connected. If we could see this, see it clearly, know intimately the implications of this, then skin colour, race, religion, culture, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, social status, would make no difference to us. If we could truly treat our neighbor as we would (or should) treat our loved ones, as we would like to be treated, embrace difference, love unconditionally, hold compassion near, then many of the problems we face, like war, could dissolve, and peace could prevail. Is war sometimes necessary? As long as we do not see that we really are ONE, it seems at times it may be. A great tragedy indeed.

Ishmael and Issac are step brothers. Therefore they are family. Islam desends from Ishmael, Judism from Issac.



You can still hate your own family... and they will still be your family. One of lifes great quirks.

I don't understand. How can Arabs and Jews be family? They hate each other, want to kill each other.