Comments on: If You Want Peace, Stop Preparing for War

By: Jacob Cohen Donnelly

Jacob Cohen Donnelly — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:28:18 +0000

And since publishing this article, my opinions on the matter have developed and change. I stand by what I said in regards to Israel and Palestine going back and forth, killing each other, and the world doing nothing at all to say anything. Sure, there is the occasional, “stop being naughty, Israel” or “you’re being silly, terrorists,” but overall, nothing is done.

If I can direct you towards articles I’ve written in the past six to eight months, you’ll see that, in reality, I approve of the development of a stronger military; however, not for imperialistic purposes, but instead, allowing countries to become more secure so FDI can flow into the region consistently.

You are right, if there had been no military force on the face of the planet, Hitler would have killed even more people. However, no where in my article (other than, I’ll admit, the poorly chosen title) do I suggest that we should get rid of armies. Just that their preparing for consistent war is never going to bring peace; instead, they need to stop war and instead, focus on other ways of agreement.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:35:16 +0000

I’ll entertain the idealistic notion that one could somehow convince every nation on the planet to destroy their weapons, and stop preparing for war, and that extremist groups would also throw down their arms in favor of negotiation.

Even if I entertain the notion that NOBODY on earth prepared for war – that still would not equat to PEACE. Peace is much more than the absence of war.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:27:43 +0000

“If you want peace, stop preparing for war” is equivalent to “If you want a crime-free society, stop employing police.”

Being Jewish, I’m sure you can appreciate that, if there were no military force on the face of the planet – ever – Hitler would still have killed millions of Jews. That’s not peace.

By: Jacob Cohen Donnelly

Jacob Cohen Donnelly — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:05:33 +0000

I agree it was a generalization, but considering where I came from with my own “you are betraying your Jewish brethren” attack that I received on facebook, it made me think a little. I don’t hate Palestinians, but I am Jewish. However, I do state that I don’t believe all Israelis do this, but that there are some. Sure, the general population would like there to be peace, but at what cost? Is an Israeli willing to concede to the Palestinians or are the Palestinians willing to concede to the Israelis? Both parties expect the OTHER to concede. “I am better, they should concede to me.” That’s one reason and only one reason why there have been, to this date, so many issues.

By: Keith Weber

Keith Weber — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:42:50 +0000

I think you are generalizing Jews a little too much. I understand Jewish views of Palestinians are typically less favorable but not all jews are taught they are evil. For example, My family and all my jewish friends families were taught to try and accept them and try and reach and understanding. I have been to Israel 2x and the vibe I got was that although both sides are very suspicious of one another, the average citizen wants to try and reach a peaceful compromise. So to generalize and say “Jews are taught to believe Palestinians are evil” is simply untrue.

By: Trevor Jones

Trevor Jones — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:25:46 +0000

Well we know that JFK sure liked the idea of ramping up the USA’s involvement in Vietnam by expanding the military industrial complex and sending more of our young men to die in a foreign country that didn’t want us.
So I can understand why he would want the ever expanding State to “prepare for war”… the war he supported and was mired in.

By: Sean J. Palmer

Sean J. Palmer — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:06:57 +0000

Thanks, Siddhartha – likewise: “I know not what weapons with which World War III will be fought , but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” – Einstein

By: Jacob Cohen-Donnelly

Jacob Cohen-Donnelly — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:22:53 +0000

That is a really sad quote. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to have worked at all in the past. People have prepared for war thinking it secured peace, but instead, all it brought was more war.

By: Siddhartha

Siddhartha — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:21:45 +0000

“It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace, only by preparing for war.” JFK – 1969