4 ms·

Not politically correct, but essentially the truth about human nature. These two statements: 1. “War is so compelling that you can even get a room full of pac

Not politically correct, but essentially the truth about human nature. These two statements: 1. “War is so compelling that you can even get a room full of pacifists to pay money to be entertained by it.”" 2. "“My sister is a complete and utter feminist and pacifist,” he explains. “She doesn’t see the irony. She’s participating in this wonderful festival … that’s reenacting a battle. Nobody reenacts the Treaty of Ghent. [It] just isn’t that compelling.”" I find particularly profound. Any attempt to "window dress" our base nature, is just that - "Window dressing".

Houshalter 11y ago
I like watching disaster movies, yet do not support actual disasters.
- john_b 11y ago
  Yet presumably you recognize them for the natural, if tragic, events that they are? One's support for or opposition to a force of nature is rather irrelevant.
  - Houshalter 11y ago
    I'm saying that noting that people enjoy war movies and kids play games about war, doesn't mean they support war at all. Disaster movies are liked for the same reason as war movies. There is adrenaline and excitement and suspense. Thinking about how you would react in those situations and discussion with friends afterwards. No one wants to watch movies about boring everyday life.
brc 11y ago
The fact that violent quarrelling over resources seems to be a part of human nature seems lost on many people. I abhor war, but I'm not stupid enough to pretend it can be stopped with an army of unicorns farting rainbows. There are evil, greedy, nasty people out there who love to collect power just for the sake of collecting power. As colonel Jessop says: "Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know, that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth, because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall" Reading history makes one acutely aware of the fact that orderly and humane societies need walls with men on them, to keep out those who don't wish it so. It's an unpalatable fact sometimes but that doesn't make it less true. So I respect the role that armed forces plays in my peaceful life, and while I will never support an unjustified invasion of a peaceful country, and I will always dislike war, I understand it's just part of who humans are.

Houshalter 11y ago

I like watching disaster movies, yet do not support actual disasters.

john_b 11y ago
Yet presumably you recognize them for the natural, if tragic, events that they are? One's support for or opposition to a force of nature is rather irrelevant.
- Houshalter 11y ago
  I'm saying that noting that people enjoy war movies and kids play games about war, doesn't mean they support war at all. Disaster movies are liked for the same reason as war movies. There is adrenaline and excitement and suspense. Thinking about how you would react in those situations and discussion with friends afterwards. No one wants to watch movies about boring everyday life.

brc 11y ago

The fact that violent quarrelling over resources seems to be a part of human nature seems lost on many people. I abhor war, but I'm not stupid enough to pretend it can be stopped with an army of unicorns farting rainbows. There are evil, greedy, nasty people out there who love to collect power just for the sake of collecting power. As colonel Jessop says: "Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know, that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth, because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall" Reading history makes one acutely aware of the fact that orderly and humane societies need walls with men on them, to keep out those who don't wish it so. It's an unpalatable fact sometimes but that doesn't make it less true. So I respect the role that armed forces plays in my peaceful life, and while I will never support an unjustified invasion of a peaceful country, and I will always dislike war, I understand it's just part of who humans are.