The idea of war is stupid.

"I know that there is terrorism, but I also think there are other ways to solve that problem. We have great offense [if I can put it that way], but what if we made better defense?" First off, war is not "offense/ defense." Explain to me how there are offense/ defense sides. Second off, please specify "other ways to solve the problems." Pretty much all the current conflicts/ wars in this world currently are because of terrorism. As I explained, we have tried just speaking with terrosits- doesn't work. I would love to see your other suggestions though. "I said "giving up" instead of "surrendering", it's not a big deal. If you know what I meant, then why did you go through the trouble to tell me so?" There is a difference and I explained it. "When I said I knew what I was talking about, I meant I knew my side and I wanted people to see my point of view." But you don't exactly "know your side." You have yet explained the "other ways we could deal with the problems." Also, you commented on how defense and offense is involved in war. It is not. "War is not a *complete* waste of time, but I just think that rather than going into war, we could try to compromise or find some other way through to help Iraq people as well." In order to help the Iraqi people we must get rid of the "bad guys" aka terrorists and then provide them with the essentials to rebuild themselves. Which we are. So this is stupid? Remember: this debate is on how the "idea of war is stupid." I will argue that you have not provided any reasons as to why war is so stupid. Anyways as one of the commenters brought up, an idea can't be stupid, only the person who created the idea. I don't believe that the idea of war is stupid. It is the technique our ancestors used to solve problems. How is this stupid? Maybe instead of naming this debate: "The Idea of War is Stupid" you should have called it "War is Not the Ideal Way to Solve Conflict." But even there, you would have problems defending your side. "Sometimes it seems like it has to get worse before it gets better, but I don't think that at all." I think it is totally true. The world is not one big dreamland full of candy and unicorns. The world contains evil and bad things. Good things may take years of hard work. In Iraq, this war is sure to bring advanceds and improvements to Iraqi lives. In fact, it has already begun. A journalist stated: When I arrived in Iraq, nobody was out on the streets. When I left about 6 months later, I counted 50 soccer games being played in the streets of Baghdad. This in itself is a huge improvement. The people of Iraq are feeling and are much safer than before troops arrived. War is not one huge gory event that's sole purpose is to kill as many people as possible. This is what you make it sound like. "I think that if we could find a less violent way to solve our problems, we wouldn't have to put our people in mortal danger." Please explain those "less violent ways." "I have to say though, war has gotten less violent...in a way. I mean, I remember studying about Vietnam and how some soldiers had to eat their own horses, the horrifying amputations, and the diseases being spread, etc. I should include that it *has* gotten better, but I think we can improve much more." Less violent?! Maybe the conditions are better. But you have obviously never been in war. I have not either but I've heard stories from others who have been involved in war. It is horrible. War will always be violent but that doesn't make it a "stupid idea." "I don't see what the difference is between a school fight and a blown out war." You don't?!?!?!?! Well I will explain. A school fight is something that can be cured with conseling with the students involved. It is never as serious as war and the motivation for school fights are much less serious and much less threatening than a war. "Yet people tell children that violence never solves anything...how come that doesn't apply to war?" This is true. Violence never really "solves" something. But the terrorist problem is not something you can just "solve." There will always be terrorists. There will always be problems in the world. War was created to help aid those problems and conflicts. This doesn't mean war is "stupid." I hate hearing it described that way. I suggest that you find out some more information about war and the causes of war before you go on about how stupid war is. And what a waste of time it is. Many hope that one day the world can live in peace. But war is not stupid. ~Slammin