NB: I'm not American and I'm also very anti-war and anti-military in general. >> In the long term, it's better to be alive than to be dead. That's short term

NB: I'm not American and I'm also very anti-war and anti-military in general. >> In the long term, it's better to be alive than to be dead. That's short term in my opinion. Long term could be hundreds of years. Generally these things don't happen in a generation. There is often some civil rights violations, followed be peaceful protesting which turns violent, followed by war, and then when it's in both sides interest, peace talks. As someone from a country effected in this way I can assure you 'you need to fight for your freedom' is not an aphorism. In some cases it's necessary - to a degree. Unfortunately once violence begins it's very difficult to stop again before much more damage than was ever necessary is done. However in the long term (hundreds of years potentially) it can put an end to an evil which may have only gained in strength and oppression otherwise.