Don't defend nations, defend ideas (America, conservative)

[GeneCosta]

A friend of mine [Marine who served in Afghanistan] was discussing war with me last night online, and he said something that got me thinking: don't defend nations, defend ideas.

He went on to clarify that if two nations were at war, and you percieved yours to be on the wrong side of the struggle, you should not be defending it. This surprised me coming from an American veteran, but the more I thought about it, the more I found myself agreeing with his position. I'm starting to use the phrase liberally other places because of how much patriotism and nationalism clouds idealogy.

What are your thoughts?

[Ori]

Originally Posted by GeneCosta

A friend of mine [Marine who served in Afghanistan] was discussing war with me last night online, and he said something that got me thinking: don't defend nations, defend ideas.

He went on to clarify that if two nations were at war, and you percieved yours to be on the wrong side of the struggle, you should not be defending it. This surprised me coming from an American veteran, but the more I thought about it, the more I found myself agreeing with his position. What are your thoughts?

Yeah, but if your not with us, your with the terrorists, right?

[Don Penguinoini]

Oi oi, NO! Sorry i had to do that. Well your defeding what you percieve to be the rght thing, in that case, a man, its eithher Bin Laden or George Bush. Somehow they have engrained their messages into people and they lay their life to a thought of someone else.

[Joe Stocks]

Hi Gene,

I completely agree. I know that is certainly true of the conservative movement. It's about ideas, not merely winning elections (although recent events indicate an intellectual flabbiness among Republicans).

[Kungfuzed]

Originally Posted by GeneCosta

A friend of mine [Marine who served in Afghanistan] was discussing war with me last night online, and he said something that got me thinking: don't defend nations, defend ideas.

He went on to clarify that if two nations were at war, and you percieved yours to be on the wrong side of the struggle, you should not be defending it. This surprised me coming from an American veteran, but the more I thought about it, the more I found myself agreeing with his position. I'm starting to use the phrase liberally other places because of how much patriotism and nationalism clouds idealogy.

What are your thoughts?

Could you maybe give an example or two? It seems right now, weather we're correct or not, we're just stuck in Iraq and no one even has any good ideas on how to get us out, so what ideas do we defend?

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by GeneCosta

A friend of mine [Marine who served in Afghanistan] was discussing war with me last night online, and he said something that got me thinking: don't defend nations, defend ideas.

He went on to clarify that if two nations were at war, and you percieved yours to be on the wrong side of the struggle, you should not be defending it. This surprised me coming from an American veteran, but the more I thought about it, the more I found myself agreeing with his position. I'm starting to use the phrase liberally other places because of how much patriotism and nationalism clouds idealogy.

What are your thoughts?

Aryan supremacy was/is an idea. Stalinism was/is an idea. Maoism was/is an idea. "Spreading democracy" by force is an idea.

I will defend my country if it is invaded (in which case, it would not be on the wrong side of the struggle). But otherwise, I will not defend country NOR idea. I will defend people. Not just "my" people, but all people.

[eudaimonia]

Originally Posted by GeneCosta

A friend of mine [Marine who served in Afghanistan] was discussing war with me last night online, and he said something that got me thinking: don't defend nations, defend ideas.

Your friend is wise.


eudaimonia,

Mark

[kadzbiz]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Aryan supremacy was/is an idea. Stalinism was/is an idea. Maoism was/is an idea. "Spreading democracy" by force is an idea. I will defend my country if it is invaded (in which case, it would not be on the wrong side of the struggle). But otherwise, I will not defend country NOR idea. I will defend people. Not just "my" people, but all people.

There are people who fight for those things because they feel it is the right idea. That's the unfortunate thing in wars, the perception of what is right. It would be sad if all "your" people had the wrong idea in your opinion. What do you do then?

Originally Posted by Kungfuzed

..... we're just stuck in Iraq and no one even has any good ideas on how to get us out.....

Can't the US Forces just go to the next place on the Government's list?

[lombas]

No states, no wars.