I was a pacifist, too, I thought, until my first child was born and I discovered I could easily kill to protect him. I am not especially proud of that but it gave me insight into a more brutal, perhaps human, side of me that had been hidden until then. Now my thoughts are more complicated. But I suspect we both agree that too often conflicts are started by people who have something to gain and nothing to lose by them, while others are sent to face the danger. Those of us who are allowed to stay behind in safety owe them a debt of gratitude, for sure.
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I was a pacifist, too, I thought, until my first child was born and I discovered I could easily kill to protect him. I am not especially proud of that but it gave me insight into a more brutal, perhaps human, side of me that had been hidden until then. Now my thoughts are more complicated. But I suspect we both agree that too often conflicts are started by people who have something to gain and nothing to lose by them, while others are sent to face the danger. Those of us who are allowed to stay behind in safety owe them a debt of gratitude, for sure.
Wise words indeed.
I am a pacifist too. I am grateful for the service of our veterans but wish we could have avoided the wars.
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