The Anti-War Rally Myth

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.

- Samuel Adams

As a soldier of several years with experience at all levels - strategic, tactical and operational, I have yet to run into a single sailor, marine, airman or soldier who is "pro-war;" however, I have run into very few who do not understand the necessity of war. Confucius and Sun Tzu realized very similar positions on the matter. Further, many of us also realize that no argument about the morality of war is likely to prevent war from recurring in the future. From here, it seems clear enough that we either determine which events justify a physical battle - or, moreover, its alternatives.

These "alternatives" are routinely insisted upon by the far-left, but rarely - if ever - quantified.

The plan of appeasement is no answer. The moment we negotiate our own Rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness is the very moment we subjugate ourselves to tyrants.

The plan of isolationism is no answer, either. Ignorance of history will not get us a free pass when it comes time for history to repeat itself. Historically, wars are fought over ideas and resources and no amount of isolationism will prevent another state from eye-balling our greener grasses.

The plan of negotiation (diplomacy) is, however, an answer - but, negotiation becomes appeasement the moment we sacrifice our moral principles. All too often, the far-left approach to diplomacy too-easily accepts the sacrifice, and therefore the gradual decimation of our moral principles. And worse, too many (not just on the far-left) fail to realize that some people (terrorists) will accept nothing short of their religious ideals. They will negotiate nothing but our surrender.


The anti-war rally myth is that we can somehow sing a round of Kumbayah and avert conflict while maintaining our quality of life. This myth leads to the "quality" of life we've seen in the Middle East (i.e. the lack of civil rights - especially for women, genocide, and decades of oppression). This myth is a bill of goods that will get us nothing - if not kicked out of our own backyards by neighborhood bullies, let alone terrorists from half-way around the world.

Unless we are willing to promote and defend our way of life, we are not going to maintain it. There will always be another bully.