If civil war or foreign threat required it, would you take up arms in a 'just war'?

[Chris-]

(Required as in 'justified', not necessarily conscription)

 

As an American who has lived in relative comfort, I've been thinking about this question in the aftermath of Russia invading Ukraine. I'm curious to see how other people think of such a question.

[Guest]

I am firmly committed to non-violence. I would be fine to participate in non-violent support of national defense, like in food or medical areas. But I’m not joining in the armed part of the conflict.

[b_m_b_m_b_m]

Impossible to say, though leaning towards no

[Jason]

Foreign invasion? Possibly yes. 

 

Civil War 2 Electric Boogaloo with the chuds? I'm definitely applying for asylum in the Netherlands. 

[Chairslinger]

Yup.

 

My main hangup would be in the legitimacy of the war. If I felt it was justified I'd have no problem killing.

[Uaarkson]

I would probably join the Marines/Navy in some sort of support/engineering role, not because I’m afraid to kill or be killed, but because I’d just be more valuable to the effort in that way. If it was a truly just war, and I was conscripted, I would accept my fate and perform my duty to the best of my ability. Defending your home is a totally different ballgame compared to invading and occupying a smaller enemy.

 

With that said, my lungs/breastplate and spine are a little fucked up so I don’t know how long I’d last in a real combat scenario, lol

[TheLeon]

Nah, I’m a total coward. 

[Mr.Vic20]

Yes, I am a citizen and would do my part. That doesn't mean I'd want to or like it, mind you. 

[Bacon]

I wouldn't join a militia, and first goal would be to see if I could seek safety elsewhere. But I would defend myself if I had too. Not dying is the end goal. 

[chakoo]

If just and worth fighting for then yes but I’d be better utilize somewhere in the back office (i’m a software dev and great at building things).

[MarSolo]

I’m Italian, so I’m a lover, not a fighter. Let me seduce their women.

[Keyser_Soze]

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

WHERE DO I SIGN UP?!?!?

 

AGAIN.

[skillzdadirecta]

Nope. I only take up arms for family. It would take an alien invasion or a zombie apocalypse for me to join any military.

[Massdriver]

Yes if it was truly just. I believe what I would consider a just war, especially civil, is extremely unlikely though. So in most of these war scenarios, I’m leaving with my family. 

[GeneticBlueprint]

Specifically in the context of my homeland being invaded, yes. I would do everything in my power to keep my family from becoming victims of war crimes.

 

Other "just" wars and I'd be a lot more iffy on my willingness.

[Mercury33]

Civil War? No not at all. But if somehow we’re Ukraine to someone’s Russia. Yes I would. 

[Brian]

My wife and daughter have dual citizenship so we would leave. I ain’t killing for this bullshit country. 

[Uaarkson]

Having no foreign citizenship, realistically I would probably just move as far from the fighting as physically possible and try to wait it out.

[Jwheel86]

I will do my part. 

 

(Very conservative guy I know has one of these, goes deer hunting with it). 

[Chris-]

33 minutes ago, Jwheel86 said:

I will do my part. 

 

(Very conservative guy I know has one of these, goes deer hunting with it). 

Bruh we gettin you a Metal Gear if you want one

[Ominous]

This country isn't worth dying for. 

[TheLeon]

1 hour ago, Chris- said:

Bruh we gettin you a Metal Gear if you want one

Hold on. If we can Gear up, I’m in. 

[Fizzzzle]

I would. I'm already self destructive by nature, give me a righteous cause to go get shot at and I'd probably do it.

 

Of course i already washed out of the military once, so that's likely an empty threat unless they get really desperate and are okay with the whole "I broke both of my feet at the same time the last time we tried this" thing.

[Comet]

If it was justified in my eyes I would always choose to fight and defend.

 

The problem is, in today’s America what the fuck is justified for me? A civil war? Nah because I’d likely choose to escape towards a more sane state. An invasion? Hmm maybe. A millennial version of Red Dawn with China?

[PaladinSolo]

If the US falls into chaos the rest of the world is going with it, leaving isn't going to do you any good.

[Ominous]

1 hour ago, PaladinSolo said:

If the US falls into chaos the rest of the world is going with it, leaving isn't going to do you any good.

It's like the people that stash all their money in their home because they think the banking system will fail and only good and silver will be worth anything. Shit son, at that point the only currency is lead and bottle caps.

[Anathema-]

Only if forced. But other than arms I could and would contribute in a civilian capacity. 

[SuperSpreader]

Fuck y'all, I'm going to Mexico

[b_m_b_m_b_m]

3 hours ago, PaladinSolo said:

If the US falls into chaos the rest of the world is going with it, leaving isn't going to do you any good.

I keep telling this to smug online Canadians! If we go down we’re taking you with us! Or at least you’ll be getting a lot of violence, far more than you’re used to seeing. 

[Comet]

2 hours ago, b_m_b_m_b_m said:

I keep telling this to smug online Canadians! If we go down we’re taking you with us! Or at least you’ll be getting a lot of violence, far more than you’re used to seeing. 

Did they forget what the truckers did? 

[CitizenVectron]

7 hours ago, PaladinSolo said:

If the US falls into chaos the rest of the world is going with it, leaving isn't going to do you any good.

 

Yeah realistically the only time I'd have to take up arms to defend my home would be if the breakaway Republic of the Dakotas decided to invade western Canada.

[Fizzzzle]

It is an interesting prospect. Like, China and the US are the two countries where if things go tits up, things get pretty shitty for everyone. It reminds me of the bronze age collapse. Most historians think that strictly government-controlled economies of the time were so inflexible and intertwined (you need copper and zinc to make bronze, they are basically never found in the same place, therefore importing is necessary for everyone) that it became a house of cards. A drought in Asia Minor causes an uprising in Crete, which causes an invasion of Egypt or wherever. Next thing you know, all government has been overthrown, Greek goes dark, next time we hear from them it's hundreds of years later, they're speaking a different language and using a new alphabet.

 

So I guess it's true. If things go tits up here, no one is insulated.

[Spawn_of_Apathy]

Sure. I’ll Red Dawn some crap. 

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

22 hours ago, Fizzzzle said:

It is an interesting prospect. Like, China and the US are the two countries where if things go tits up, things get pretty shitty for everyone. It reminds me of the bronze age collapse. Most historians think that strictly government-controlled economies of the time were so inflexible and intertwined (you need copper and zinc to make bronze, they are basically never found in the same place, therefore importing is necessary for everyone) that it became a house of cards. A drought in Asia Minor causes an uprising in Crete, which causes an invasion of Egypt or wherever. Next thing you know, all government has been overthrown, Greek goes dark, next time we hear from them it's hundreds of years later, they're speaking a different language and using a new alphabet.

 

So I guess it's true. If things go tits up here, no one is insulated.

 

The Bronze Age Collapse is such a fascinating period that we have so very little information about!