We condemn war and yet are happy to live comfortably in society in which military plays a major part, ?

Question

the same society which is maintained partly by waging war. I mean to say that everything seems to be connected directly or indirectly through other causes. The smallest event or action seems to have an effect on the collective whole.

So our society, our modes of life, work, relationships, everything, is an outcome of even the smallest parts in our society, as well as the bigger parts. War is a manifestation of ourselves, our lives and is a basic element to how our society is structured.

So by supporting ones society, one supports wars as well and anything else which makes up or society – e.g. Laws, police, education, cultural norms, etc.

Example: If you were to completely remove the military from your country, with all of its funding, and all that which surrounds having a military like wars being fought with all of the pro’s and con’s which follow – How would your country then look like? E.g. How would it affect the economy of the country?

Now if there were no longer a military that would naturally affect other elements which are connected to the military, like the weapon industry. And in turn that would effect something else, and that would effect something, so forth and so on. That would effect our everyday lives, how our society is structured and our patterns of life. (now it is an idea so I do not have detailed examples)

My question: If I am incorrect, please correct me.

Should one then not take full responsibility for ones chosen lifestyle, and so one should live this lifestyle 100% and not half way?

Not living off of society, benefiting what ones likes and discarding or ignoring the ‘ugly’ aspects, where military and war are a part of shaping ones society and thus everyday life.

One can not possibly be happy, educate himself, work, raise a family and benefit from society and at the same time despise or protest against wars waged by our country, which again shape our country.

Should one not, if he accepts living within society support it 100%, including its ’ugly’ parts?

If one despises or does not support war one should also at the same time not live within society. At least not ours, where war and military plays a major role. If one can find a society in which war is not an element of it, then to be anti-war would not be hypocrisy, there would be no contradiction. But for most people, it seems live a half life and are cowards because they do not take their ideas and words and live it to its fullest. They are fearful to live their own feeling and ideas to there full conclusion and also too fearful to be a full member of contemporary society.

This is my question, should one not live fully by his words and take full responsibility for there consequences? In this case it would be living an existence where war and military is not a reality. And the consequence for ones actions and beliefs is for oneself to find out and live through.

Is it not hypocritical to live otherwise?

Even if it is just for ones own honor and dignity.

Please correct me if I am wrong and sorry for the length.

sorry, English is not my native tongue.

Answer 1

I am personally responsible for the actions of my government. That is apparent by the fact that America was a democracy, some guys blew up a couple buildings and the government is taking away our civil liberties. We can vote in anybody we want, but we vote for fascists. So we ARE responsible. I AM responsible for the death of democracy. I did nothing. Vote for Obama he supports removing our civil liberties, vote for McCain, he supports removing our civil liberties. How did I get only two candidates who support fascism? I did nothing to support candidates that stood for liberty and democracy. I did this.

I saw a bumper sticker the other say that made me laugh out loud.

It said:  "Stop bitching and start a revolution."

I was so relieved to be reminded that I was just a *****.

Come November we will find out who's ***** I am.

Answer 2

For starters, there is nothing wrong with your English. It is better than half the people out there to whom English is a first language.

You are not wrong in what you are saying. To live in a society you don't fully support is in a sense hypocritical. Ideally, if you don't agree with something, you should not support any manifestations of that something.

However, it is impossible to boycott all of the things you don't support. In this way, society is a trap. The big example is this: I feel for the environment and I resent plowing up the earth and destroying nature for the purposes of mining coal and drilling for oil. I also believe that global warming is real and would like to see a downturn in the use of pollution due to burning fossil fuels.

EVERY SINGLE THING in the society of developed countries is dependent on fossil fuels. We would be back in the stone age without them. Although I disagree with their affect on the environment, I cannot possibly forsake fossil fuels altogether, as this would mean going into the bush and trying to live off hunting animals. What I can do is this: Only use what appliances I need, ride a bike to work, install a solar hot water system, buy an existing house rather than build one in a new development, study to become an engineer and investigate alternate energy sources.

There are many other examples. The point is you've got to do what you can. I, like you, do not appreciate war in any way. What we do not have the power to do is magically make war go away. Even finding a passifist country to live in would not solve the problem that the country you left still supported war as an answer to its problems. What we can do is speak to others about our beliefs on war, vote for candidates who don't support war (if it is ever possible), don't enlist in the army, educate your children on the horrors of war and tell them not to enlist in the army, pray that one day the people of the world will realise that war is wrong and give it up once and for all. Make sure that you don't fight excessively with the people in your life, because as you say

"our society, our modes of life, work, relationships, everything, is an outcome of even the smallest parts in our society, as well as the bigger parts. War is a manifestation of ourselves, our lives and is a basic element to how our society is structured".

Unless there is peace at home and in our relationships at the personal level, there will never be peace between nations and we will never be rid of war.

Answer 3

America is a country where the government can declare war, but at the same time it's citizens can protest the government and make it seem like it doesn't want war.

We can delcare war and show authority, but we can also protest war and be "sympathetic and caring". We can be two parts of the same whole.

this clears up the whole condemning war yet acknowleding that it is important to shaping our society.

A balance is required in most things in the universe, and in this way we balance ourselves out, byt going to war, but not wanting to go to war, by having a military bu at the same time not wanting one.

Answer 4

Your point is made that in our societal interactions we should work to refuse to compromise with war. But what we do in our personal lives, we manifest as a community and nation. When we can be at peace within ourselves and not need to put up defenses on a personal level, it will automatically become reality in the nation and when the war mongers who profit from war try to entice us into another through the media, we will refuse. So, look at your own fears. When they have no power to influence your actions, they are turned into love.