Assignment 9- Nicole Loy

“War, what is it good for?” The answer, just like it is in the Edwin Starr song is, “Absolutely, nothing.” War should only be the last resort. I believe that there are only extreme situations where we should declare a state of war. Those situations include, if a group of people is being unjustifiably persecuted, such as was the case in World War Two, or if a nation directly asks for our help in dispelling tyrannical forces from their country/our nation itself is trying to do that. In both of these situations, however, a majority of our people must be in agreement to go to war. Just as Starr says in his song, “War, I despise ‘cause it means destruction of innocent lives. War means tears to thousands of mothers how? When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives.”  I believe that if it is to help a persecuted group of people, then it is morally right, as generally there are no alternatives and they were being persecuted for their beliefs. If they are being persecuted, then diplomacy is kind of out of the question. If it is to help another nation/our self dispel tyrannical forces, then it should be as a last resort. The nation should be encouraged to find a non-lethal way of getting those forces to leave. If that doesn’t work, then war is an appropriate response. I believe that it is a responsibility to go to war in the case of people being persecuted for their beliefs. I believe that in all other cases, we should find a diplomatic solution. I think it would be just as effective, but it would take more time.