The primary purpose of any military service is to employ violence to compell action, even if that means taking of human life.

Despite our ability to wrap these actions in the cloak of patriotism, service, and honor, doesn't it merely cover up what is in essence a cult of death?

We celebrate our ability to kill and destroy. We make heros out of those who kill better and braver than the rest. Can society truley be enlightened as long as we continue to celebrate the destruction of human life and human endevour? How do we rise above it?

First question: Yes
Second question: No. Well, if there was one opressive Nazi-style world government, then there would be no war.

Originally Posted by Insight

The primary purpose of any military service is to employ violence to compell action, even if that means taking of human life.

What about defending one's nation, way of life, or property from those who would destroy it?

Originally Posted by Insight

Despite our ability to wrap these actions in the cloak of patriotism, service, and honor, doesn't it merely cover up what is in essence a cult of death?

I don't buy the statement that we choose to claim patriosm or honor for a reason to go to war. I still believe it is a reaction to imminent danger. People choose to join cults. The inherent fight or flight in the face of danger triggers self preservation mode.

Originally Posted by Insight

We celebrate our ability to kill and destroy. We make heros out of those who kill better and braver than the rest. Can society truley be enlightened as long as we continue to celebrate the destruction of
human life and human endevour? How do we rise above it?

I don't believe we, or anyone for that matter, celebrate killing and destroying. On the contrary, we celebrate the fact that a conflict ends and the killing stops. We celebrate the fact that our kids come home safe and that they chose to go in harm's way to defend their loved ones.

How do you know human kind can ever rise to a higher plane where there is no malice toward no one? Maybe that enlightenment doesn't exist and never will. If eternal peace on earth was a plan by a higher power or just human evolution, there would never be a Cain and Able impulse in us.

Originally Posted by Missileer

I don't believe we, or anyone for that matter, celebrate killing and destroying.

Yet we do not reject it outright either. As I said, we accept it and lionize those who do it better than others.

I'm not disparaging the sacrifice, but I wonder if an organization can truly promote virtue if it is imbued with violence, destruction, and death. Are we not naturally repelled by such things as human beings? How is it that we come to accept it as necessary?

I don't think, IMHO, "reject" is valid when one is backed against a wall and it's the only option left. I guess you could describe the thrill of victory as "lionizing" but it beats the agony of defeat any day.

Sure, you can promote virtue in a culture, it just won't be in every country in the world. One man's virtue is another's idea of weakness.

No, there's not natural human repulsion of death because we look at it as inevitable and even necessary from the dawn of time. We killed to eat and fought and killed to protect ourselves knowing that it could end in death for us or a foe.

Originally Posted by Missileer

I don't believe we, or anyone for that matter, celebrate killing and destroying.

I do every single time a top al-quaeda is sent to his rightfull hell.

If we where to find Osama's corpse I'd be in the bar celebrating with all my friends that night.

War and killing is not fun nor is it pleasurable. However, we are not gods, we are humans. And history has shown again and again that those who try to live like high-minded gods have more often than not been the corpses that murderous barbarians are celebrating the death of.

Originally Posted by Whispering Death

I do every single time a top al-quaeda is sent to his rightfull hell.

If we where to find Osama's corpse I'd be in the bar celebrating with all my friends that night.

War and killing is not fun nor is it pleasurable. However, we are not gods, we are humans. And history has shown again and again that those who try to live like high-minded gods have more often than not been the corpses that murderous barbarians are celebrating the death of.

Looks like I wrote this myself.

Originally Posted by Whispering Death

I do every single time a top al-quaeda is sent to his rightfull hell.

If we where to find Osama's corpse I'd be in the bar celebrating with all my friends that night.

War and killing is not fun nor is it pleasurable. However, we are not gods, we are humans. And history has shown again and again that those who try to live like high-minded gods have more often than not been the corpses that murderous barbarians are celebrating the death of.

Let us know the location.. I'll join in the celebration.

War is a necessary evil that your kind must perpetrate upon itself for a while longer. In time, your people will as a whole become enlightened in a new and yet unknown way and you will no longer need to wage war with one another. But until all of your kind can reach that level of development, you will continue to settle scored in fields of battle. The desicive time, depending on the nature of this timeline could manifest itself in a number of ways. In any case, however, it is doubtful that anyone reading this at the time of its creation will be present to that event. Your people are still in the phase where the price is paid to justify the ends. your suffering is paving the way for the coming of this distant new time.

Originally Posted by System Bolaget

War is a necessary evil that your kind must perpetrate upon itself for a while longer. In time, your people will as a whole become enlightened in a new and yet unknown way and you will no longer need to wage war with one another. But until all of your kind can reach that level of development, you will continue to settle scored in fields of battle. The desicive time, depending on the nature of this timeline could manifest itself in a number of ways. In any case, however, it is doubtful that anyone reading this at the time of its creation will be present to that event. Your people are still in the phase where the price is paid to justify the ends. your suffering is paving the way for the coming of this distant new time.

Uhhh...ok.

War and killing is not fun nor is it pleasurable. However, we are not gods, we are humans. And history has shown again and again that those who try to live like high-minded gods have more often than not been the corpses that murderous barbarians are celebrating the death of.

I agree. Become a non warlike culture and a warlike culture will inevitably see you as prey. However, being a warlike culture will leave you open to attacks from others that are in fear of you. On the other side of the cube, if you demonstrate the willingness to defend yourself and your culture and the ability to do so yet take no action upon others, there is a very good chance you will be left alone.

Like it has been said, Cain and Abel, Fight or Flight instinct, whatever is bred in us by god or mother nature or whatever else one may believe in, the fact remains the same:

The strong may survive, but the strongest will endure.