What is it good for? Matthew Telfer

The American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Desert Storm and finally the Iraq War. Since 1776 when America became independent from Britain, our country has been in ten wars. Sure, going to war in some of these instances was justified, but was it worth it? In the American Revolution there was no way of gaining our independence without war. Britain was unwilling to give up their New World territory peacefully. Yet we battled for eight long years and forced Britain to surrender. Even though it may be justified, I could never truly say it's morally right. Killing is never morally right even though it may be the only way to survive in war.

Yes there were certain times in the past when America had a responsibility to go to war. In World War II we could not have just sat back and let the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor without any consequences. We had a responsibility to fight for those who were killed in Pearl Harbor. There are always alternatives yet are the alternatives as effective as war? I believe we must try to always solve problems peacefully before we resort to war. Yet, I believe war is more effective because when a country has lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers, that country feels more vulnerable and are more willing to agree to different proposals. War is the last resort. If all options have failed, then a country can contemplate going to war. Yet there is always a loser in war. A country just has to hope that they won't be the loser when all is said and done.