Posted on Nov 5, 2015
Living with pacifists: how has this affected your life?
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Definition of pacifist - a person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable.
Growing up in the 1960's and 1970's I encountered people who became pacifists because of nuclear weapon use in WWII, the sheer horror of living in WWII, and people who were opposed to what they knew of the Vietnam War and the role of the USA military in that region.
I have studied just war and firmly believe there are reasons for fighting wars which are just. I know people who do not believe there is an justifiable reason for warfare. Have you lived with pacifists? How have you resolved your differences?
Growing up in the 1960's and 1970's I encountered people who became pacifists because of nuclear weapon use in WWII, the sheer horror of living in WWII, and people who were opposed to what they knew of the Vietnam War and the role of the USA military in that region.
I have studied just war and firmly believe there are reasons for fighting wars which are just. I know people who do not believe there is an justifiable reason for warfare. Have you lived with pacifists? How have you resolved your differences?
Peace
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Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 16
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Most of my British cousins are pacifists and my parents were pacifists having survived WWII in London. Living with irrational pacifists is very challenging; but, living with rational pacifists can be a great way to sharpen your debating skills.
I learned to take many things with the proverbial grain of salt. I love my cousins even though we disagree on many things. In 1983 I stayed at a commune in London which was very interesting to say the least. I was a 1LT in the Infantry at the time and everybody there was a pacifist - some were notional pacifists while a coupe were of the fire-breathing type who seemed to relish any conflict with war mongers as I was affectionately known.
I learned to take many things with the proverbial grain of salt. I love my cousins even though we disagree on many things. In 1983 I stayed at a commune in London which was very interesting to say the least. I was a 1LT in the Infantry at the time and everybody there was a pacifist - some were notional pacifists while a coupe were of the fire-breathing type who seemed to relish any conflict with war mongers as I was affectionately known.
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I can't say I've dealt with this personally Sir. I know about the "sudden" war objectors, but they don't fit the criteria you laid out. They just want out of a deployment and run somewhere in TRADOC or Canada. But to be fair, wouldn't we need to listen to their side provided they are being factual rather than "running scared"?
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Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay
I've dealt with members of Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans For Peace. It's difficult. We are all victims of war and deal and respond differently to our injuries. It's like a blind man trying to cope, a mute trying to communicate.
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I was raised in a pro-military environment as well as my extended family so I never lived with a pacifist. Anyhow this how I view the mindset and its merit.
Some tyrant gets out of hand - pacifists complain/protest - brutal crackdown - violence erupts. The Syrian conflict is a prime example of how this happens. The civil uprising phase created the platform for the emergence of militant opposition movements and massive defections from the Syrian Army, which gradually transformed the conflict from a civil uprising into an armed rebellion, and later a civil war and ISIS. Pacifists are more than likely the first ones seeking peaceful reform in cases social injustice - however in many instances the idea of reform via peaceful measures is unrealistic and leads to an escalation in violence. In many cases peaceful pacifists are in fact a catalyst in acts of aggression.
Some tyrant gets out of hand - pacifists complain/protest - brutal crackdown - violence erupts. The Syrian conflict is a prime example of how this happens. The civil uprising phase created the platform for the emergence of militant opposition movements and massive defections from the Syrian Army, which gradually transformed the conflict from a civil uprising into an armed rebellion, and later a civil war and ISIS. Pacifists are more than likely the first ones seeking peaceful reform in cases social injustice - however in many instances the idea of reform via peaceful measures is unrealistic and leads to an escalation in violence. In many cases peaceful pacifists are in fact a catalyst in acts of aggression.
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Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay
I think it is fair to say that there is a struggle or balance between using violence and nonviolence to promote change. I am surprised to see that in my youth i never considered the term "nonviolent solution".
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I was fortunate being assigned to Hawaii following my tour of duty in Vietnam. There was an excellent relationship between the civilian and military communities there and I didn't experience the same level of harassment that other GIs were subjected to when they returned to CONUS. Years later I ran into a clergyman who had been an antiwar activist during the Vietnam War era and he turned somewhat "guarded" when he learned that I was a Vietnam Vet. I didn't remain long in his congregation following his reaction to me...
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Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay
My father and siblings appear "intact" well. I recognize that the very nature of war is destructive and uncontrollable and disrespectful. I empathize with ALL the victims of war, the injured, the disposesed, the homeless, the orphans, the widows, the dead. It makes no logical sense. There is no moral ground. War is obsolete. There will always be war, but it does not have to be state-sanctioned under the guise of self-defense.
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I have never lived with any, but on the bright side, it is a curable condition.
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Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay
To increase your knowledge you should get to know some. My veteran family members appear afraid to talk to me. They appear to need time to digest my words as I; theirs.
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I was raised "non-resistant." I would define the belief of non-resistance as a form of pacifism. My mom will never approve of my service in the military. It has certainly caused me to think about what service entails to a degree that I do not believe most soldiers ever will.
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Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay
I cannot walk in your boots. Though I appreciate that you have seen both "sides". Me, I woke-up after the priest from my Catholic Church had to apologize for announcing an anti-war march in Tacoma, WA.
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There is a time for peace, there is a time for war. It sure would be nice to find some of that time for peace on occasion. But, maybe it falls under the Biblical wisdom - "seek and ye shall find" - we seek war, and we find it.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you MAJ Bryan Zeski for mentioning the Biblical verses which are such a beautiful message with apparently opposite couplets. While a few thousand years old or so they are timeless and still ring true today.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 [New American Standard Bible (NASB)]
A Time for Everything
3 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every [a]event under heaven—
2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas, SGT Forrest Stewart, SGT (Join to see), SGT Randal Groover
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 [New American Standard Bible (NASB)]
A Time for Everything
3 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every [a]event under heaven—
2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas, SGT Forrest Stewart, SGT (Join to see), SGT Randal Groover
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After a while, one can only take so much of getting punched before they end up punching back.
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