My grandpa and I have been talking a lot more. He agrees that it isn't a good system - that for a person to have to either agree with all the wars or with none of them seems unfair. But I've already signed on, and although I don't think that I'll ever actually have to go to war, I guess that I'll go. But I also know that after talking about all of this, I won't really think about violence in the same way again. I know that I wouldn't ever use violence if I was just trying to get something, or if I was upset. I think if I was being hurt or someone I love was being hurt, then I'd use violence, but only to defend ourselves until we were safe. I think it would be ideal if that were the only type of war the America got into, but it also makes sense for the US Army to protect people that can't do it for themselves. That is a sort self defense, isn't it? I'm not trying to find a justification to make the current wars into 'just wars' but I'm just trying to puzzle thorugh what is acceptable and what isn't in my own mind.
In the middle of all this, there's something that really has been bothering me though. There's no way that every guy who get's these cards in the mail has the time or the resources to think about all of this. I mean, most people probably don't really realize that they have a chose about this. If a person's religion doesn't teach about this specifically then how would anyone know that there is such a thing as a conscientious objector? Heck - I can barely spell the word.
One thing that Grandpa said about all this religious stuff totally makes sense to me. He said that he'd been thinking about how justice plays into a war. Grandpa said that in some situations a lot of justice can be done if just a little bit of violence is used, and I've been thinking about the same thing. So why would serving in a situation that used a little violence to help a lot of people and do a lot of good be wrong? I guess that it is something that I will have to deal with if I am ever faced with it and until then I'll just have to hope it never happens.
20091129
What do I owe america?
I guess I've been thinking about all the things Grandpa has been saying. I know that it wouldn't be my idea of fun to go overseas and fight and maybe even have to kill someone but aren't I living in this country? So don't I have to agree that there is a risk to me living here and having to serve if something happens?
Like I said, it isn't my idea of fun. And I guess I'd rather be able to chose whether I'd fight in a war or not. It makes sense for me to have to fight if someone was attacking America, but it doesn't really make sense for a country to force people to go someplace else and fight if they don't think the war is a good one. But Grandpa was telling me about how that isn't the way it works - you either agree with all the wars that America fights, or you have to disagree with all the wars - so I couldn't pick and choose whether I'd want to fight for one war or another.
But that doesn't mean that if I go to fight in a war then that means I agree with all kinds of violence. Look at all the horrible forms of violence in the world that could never be used in a 'just' way, like some wars could be fought in. Child abuse. Sexual violence. Domestic violence. Gang violence. Hate crimes. Those never help anyone in any situation. Yeah they are glorified in movies and tv shows just like war can be glorified but I think that these are different because there is not reason why they should ever be committed. If a war must be fought to protect a group of people from suffering more, and there is a clear possibility of it actually succeeding in the goal, then it is a little bit of violence to help save a lot of lives. But I cannot think of a single situation where beating a child would help anyone.
Like I said, it isn't my idea of fun. And I guess I'd rather be able to chose whether I'd fight in a war or not. It makes sense for me to have to fight if someone was attacking America, but it doesn't really make sense for a country to force people to go someplace else and fight if they don't think the war is a good one. But Grandpa was telling me about how that isn't the way it works - you either agree with all the wars that America fights, or you have to disagree with all the wars - so I couldn't pick and choose whether I'd want to fight for one war or another.
But that doesn't mean that if I go to fight in a war then that means I agree with all kinds of violence. Look at all the horrible forms of violence in the world that could never be used in a 'just' way, like some wars could be fought in. Child abuse. Sexual violence. Domestic violence. Gang violence. Hate crimes. Those never help anyone in any situation. Yeah they are glorified in movies and tv shows just like war can be glorified but I think that these are different because there is not reason why they should ever be committed. If a war must be fought to protect a group of people from suffering more, and there is a clear possibility of it actually succeeding in the goal, then it is a little bit of violence to help save a lot of lives. But I cannot think of a single situation where beating a child would help anyone.
religion? I don't know.
Grandpa talked with me the other day - he's been going to these meetings talking to pastors and stuff and I guess its all been because he is worried about me. Well not really worried about me but worried about what would happen if I got drafted. He's been talking all about how some wars are a 'just war' and how some violence is ok but not other types of violence isn't. I don't know what he's talking about, but I'm not worried about this. I mean I've filled out the card and sent it back in. When I told Grandpa that, he looked a little unhappy, but I don't really know why. He already served, and it isn't like things are nearly bad enough over in the middle east for me to have to go over there.
And he started talking about how some wars are ok with God and some aren't. I guess that I can buy that idea. But how in the world am I supposed to distinguish? I mean I barely know what I'm studying at college, or which college I'm attending but I'm supposed to be able to figure out what wars are ok and what aren't? That's a lot of pressure.
But what is violence anyway? If violence is doing harm to another person then it could be considered hurting someone's feelings or not being nice enough to them. But if violence is causing bodily harm to someone else then I certainly don't want to have to do that to anyone else. I dunno. This complicates everything. I know that I'm not against all kinds of violence but I don't know where that line should be drawn between what is acceptable and what is not.
And he started talking about how some wars are ok with God and some aren't. I guess that I can buy that idea. But how in the world am I supposed to distinguish? I mean I barely know what I'm studying at college, or which college I'm attending but I'm supposed to be able to figure out what wars are ok and what aren't? That's a lot of pressure.
But what is violence anyway? If violence is doing harm to another person then it could be considered hurting someone's feelings or not being nice enough to them. But if violence is causing bodily harm to someone else then I certainly don't want to have to do that to anyone else. I dunno. This complicates everything. I know that I'm not against all kinds of violence but I don't know where that line should be drawn between what is acceptable and what is not.
Thoughts from Grandpa
Lately, my grandfather has been talking to me a lot about what I'm going to do with this selective service card that I got in the mail. I mean, everyone knows that the war in Iraq and Afghanistan aren't going very well and I sure don't want to end up going over there. Dad was never in the military, but Grandpa was, and he's never really talked to me about that. I kinda think he's been wanting to. You know how you can tell when someone is trying to talk with you but doesn't really know how to start? That's how the past few days have been when I get home from school and Grandpa is the only one home with me. I think it would be sweet to finally hear some of his stories, you know? I've seen some of his medals up in the attic and a couple of old pictures but I never really have felt right about asking him to tell me about those days. But it must have been incredible! I mean to be part of history like that - we talk about Vietnam in our history classes every year, and I still don't have any idea what grandpa did to help over there.
I get the idea that Grandpa was kinda keeping track of me getting this card in the mail. He's been checking the box lately, and he usually doesn't do that. And now that I got it in the mail, he hasn't been checking it anymore. I dunno. I'll probably talk with him tomorrow.
I get the idea that Grandpa was kinda keeping track of me getting this card in the mail. He's been checking the box lately, and he usually doesn't do that. And now that I got it in the mail, he hasn't been checking it anymore. I dunno. I'll probably talk with him tomorrow.
%&*($%^#@
Shrug. My dad's been taking to me about what i'm gonna do with my life. I know, I know Dad, You guys aren't always gonna be around to drive me places and whatever - but I'm a KID. I mean, sure, i'll be graduating, and i'll be going to school and getting a job - but just let me enjoy these last few months of being a kid!! Don't nag nag nag. and don't get grandpa to do it for you guys. jeez.
COllege Search
So.....Tell me what you guys think - i'm lookin at going into business, maybe economics. UMD is a good school, so is UWS. I want to stay close to home, and I don't have the option of one of the bigger, more expensive schools...Even working this summer and probly getting a part time job during the year, I'll still need to go to school close to home.
I don't really know what I want to do. Get married, (find a girlfriend!), my dad worked most his life at the same job - he seems to like it. So I don't think I'm destined for greatness as they say but I do want to do something I'd enjoy.
I don't really know what I want to do. Get married, (find a girlfriend!), my dad worked most his life at the same job - he seems to like it. So I don't think I'm destined for greatness as they say but I do want to do something I'd enjoy.
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