Thoughts of war
12/06/15 04:43
There are some blogs that are destined to become something more. In some of my essays are the seeds of a larger work. I seldom take the time to expand on the ideas of an individual blog, but over the years I have produced multiple blogs on the same theme that at least hold the potential of being developed into a larger body of work.
Other blog ideas are temporary and destined to simply be tossed out and forgotten.
There was a time, when I was younger, when I would hesitate to write my “best ideas.” I kept a writing journal and lots of notes of ideas filed on the computer without developing them. Since I started writing an essay every day, I have found that it is best to run with an idea when I get it. Creativity begets creativity in much the same way that generosity begets generosity and love begets love. Giving away my ideas results in more, not fewer ideas.
However, I suspect that today’s topic is one that will never become more than a fleeting notion. You see, what I have decided to write about is something about which I know next to nothing. I have no expertise in this field, just a grain of a thought.
To back up, I come from generations of preachers and pacifists on both sides of my family. There are families with many generations of proud military service. Mine isn’t one of them. My father did serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an instructor pilot during World War II, but he is the exception, not the rule. His father and neither of his grandfathers served in the military. A similar phenomenon exists on my mother’s side of the family as well. There were generations of public servants, who served in government and official positions, but no heritage of military service. They found other ways to act out their patriotism and call to serve others.
I have never served in the military. I have never gone to war. The year that I was eligible for the draft, my birthdate was selected as a low number: 11. I was destined to be selected, even sent for my induction physical. Then, suddenly, it seemed to me, they ended the draft. The Vietnam War continued for a while, but the draft was over.
I already knew that I was headed for the ministry, so in addition to a potential student deferment, I could have applied for clergy status. A 1D draft status rarely resulted in one being drafted. But I had chosen to register and submit to the draft process as a conscientious objector. I had appeared before the draft board and stated that I was very much in favor of service to my country, but that I wished to be assigned to non-military service as a result of my religious beliefs. The draft board agreed with me and I expected to be drafted and assigned to a service agency. The draft ended. I continued with my education. I went off to seminary. I have tried to be of service to others with my life and my work.
To be clear, I do not make judgments about others who serve. My son-in-law is in the United States Air Force and I am proud of him and his service. Many of the people who are members of congregations that I serve are active in or retired from the military and I try to honor them for their service and express my gratitude for the work they do and the sacrifices they make for our security.
Because I have chosen not to serve in the military does not mean that I think I am somehow exempt from the duties of citizenship. Furthermore, I believe that since I am a citizen, I bear responsibility for the actions of my government, including those of the military.
Thomas Jefferson said, “Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.” Even though there are major differences between American Democracy and the governments of Greece and Rome, there is truth in his observation. All of us, even those of use who do not participate in the military, are part of this country that chooses to support a military. Our soldiers go forth on our behalf and we share in their responsibilities.
Having said that, I am deeply aware that military persons serve out of a call to service and not out of a love of going to war. There are thousands of quotes like the following:
Which brings me to the idea that got me thinking about this blog. I wonder what it is that makes war attractive to some soldiers. I know the stories of soldiers who have volunteered for extra deployments because they like the camaraderie of the deployment. I know those who say they never felt more alive than when they were in a war zone. I know those who feel that being deployed to a war is deeply meaningful. This has been true of people I know who fought in World War II, in Korea, in Vietnam, in the Balkans, in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Being ignorant of war, I wonder about its attraction.
It is possible that war is, for some, fun? Certainly those who pursue other dangerous adventures speak of the fun of parachuting, or racing cars or motorcycles or free climbing rock faces or bungie jumping or other dangerous activities. It seems conceivable that something might be at once dangerous and fun.
The question of the “fun” of war came from an interview that I recently heard with James Brabazon, author of “My Friend the Mercenary.”
I probably simply don’t know what I’m talking about, but it is an idea that has got my mind to thinking. I guess I’ll have to read Brabazon’s book and see if he makes any sense of it.
Who knows? Perhaps’s tomorrow’s blog topic will make more sense. Sometimes I even write of that which I know.
Other blog ideas are temporary and destined to simply be tossed out and forgotten.
There was a time, when I was younger, when I would hesitate to write my “best ideas.” I kept a writing journal and lots of notes of ideas filed on the computer without developing them. Since I started writing an essay every day, I have found that it is best to run with an idea when I get it. Creativity begets creativity in much the same way that generosity begets generosity and love begets love. Giving away my ideas results in more, not fewer ideas.
However, I suspect that today’s topic is one that will never become more than a fleeting notion. You see, what I have decided to write about is something about which I know next to nothing. I have no expertise in this field, just a grain of a thought.
To back up, I come from generations of preachers and pacifists on both sides of my family. There are families with many generations of proud military service. Mine isn’t one of them. My father did serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an instructor pilot during World War II, but he is the exception, not the rule. His father and neither of his grandfathers served in the military. A similar phenomenon exists on my mother’s side of the family as well. There were generations of public servants, who served in government and official positions, but no heritage of military service. They found other ways to act out their patriotism and call to serve others.
I have never served in the military. I have never gone to war. The year that I was eligible for the draft, my birthdate was selected as a low number: 11. I was destined to be selected, even sent for my induction physical. Then, suddenly, it seemed to me, they ended the draft. The Vietnam War continued for a while, but the draft was over.
I already knew that I was headed for the ministry, so in addition to a potential student deferment, I could have applied for clergy status. A 1D draft status rarely resulted in one being drafted. But I had chosen to register and submit to the draft process as a conscientious objector. I had appeared before the draft board and stated that I was very much in favor of service to my country, but that I wished to be assigned to non-military service as a result of my religious beliefs. The draft board agreed with me and I expected to be drafted and assigned to a service agency. The draft ended. I continued with my education. I went off to seminary. I have tried to be of service to others with my life and my work.
To be clear, I do not make judgments about others who serve. My son-in-law is in the United States Air Force and I am proud of him and his service. Many of the people who are members of congregations that I serve are active in or retired from the military and I try to honor them for their service and express my gratitude for the work they do and the sacrifices they make for our security.
Because I have chosen not to serve in the military does not mean that I think I am somehow exempt from the duties of citizenship. Furthermore, I believe that since I am a citizen, I bear responsibility for the actions of my government, including those of the military.
Thomas Jefferson said, “Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.” Even though there are major differences between American Democracy and the governments of Greece and Rome, there is truth in his observation. All of us, even those of use who do not participate in the military, are part of this country that chooses to support a military. Our soldiers go forth on our behalf and we share in their responsibilities.
Having said that, I am deeply aware that military persons serve out of a call to service and not out of a love of going to war. There are thousands of quotes like the following:
- “Although a soldier by profession, I have never felt any sort of fondness for war, and I have never advocated it, except as a means of peace.” Ulysses S. Grant
- “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” Douglas MacArthur
- “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.” Dwight D. Eisenhower
Which brings me to the idea that got me thinking about this blog. I wonder what it is that makes war attractive to some soldiers. I know the stories of soldiers who have volunteered for extra deployments because they like the camaraderie of the deployment. I know those who say they never felt more alive than when they were in a war zone. I know those who feel that being deployed to a war is deeply meaningful. This has been true of people I know who fought in World War II, in Korea, in Vietnam, in the Balkans, in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Being ignorant of war, I wonder about its attraction.
It is possible that war is, for some, fun? Certainly those who pursue other dangerous adventures speak of the fun of parachuting, or racing cars or motorcycles or free climbing rock faces or bungie jumping or other dangerous activities. It seems conceivable that something might be at once dangerous and fun.
The question of the “fun” of war came from an interview that I recently heard with James Brabazon, author of “My Friend the Mercenary.”
I probably simply don’t know what I’m talking about, but it is an idea that has got my mind to thinking. I guess I’ll have to read Brabazon’s book and see if he makes any sense of it.
Who knows? Perhaps’s tomorrow’s blog topic will make more sense. Sometimes I even write of that which I know.