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Soldiers/Civilians

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Originally posted by PocketKings
I put this question in another debate thread but thought i would start a different one for it.

When there is a war, do the soldiers go to war or do the countries go to war? If its the countries that go to war, then how can we say that non-soldiers that are killed are innocent?
Actually it would be just like a football game. Let's say that Philadelphia and Green Bay are scheduled to play. There is a rivalry between the cities, and the players are the contracted people to do the bidding of each city. The players represent the cities. The various armies represent the countries.

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Originally posted by kirksey957
Actually it would be just like a football game.
but can the players from city A ignore city B's team and tackle city B's population?

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Originally posted by aging blitzer
but can the players from city A ignore city B's team and tackle city B's population?
Occasionally that does indeed happen. That's why I won't go to a Pacers' basketball game.

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Originally posted by Delmer
Stuff the propaganda, Stang, and take a shot at dealing with the question posed in the original post.
I thought I had if I'm correct in thinking that the writer was thinking of Iraq.

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I don't think he was.
Pretend he was thinking of Iraq. When they launched a war in 1990.

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Originally posted by PocketKings
I put this question in another debate thread but thought i would start a different one for it.

When there is a war, do the soldiers go to war or do the countries go to war? If its the countries that go to war, then how can we say that non-soldiers that are killed are innocent?
Are you saying that all the soldiers that are killed are not innocent? They dont choose to go and fight.

In a democracy, are all citizens guilty of thier governments actions regardless of who they voted for?

In a dictatorship who is guilty.

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Originally posted by twhitehead
Are you saying that all the soldiers that are killed are not innocent? They dont choose to go and fight.

In a democracy, are all citizens guilty of thier governments actions regardless of who they voted for?

In a dictatorship who is guilty.
Many of the world's military personnel are volunteers.

I believe that all adult, mentally competant citizens of a democracy are responsible to a greater or lesser degree for the actions of that democracy regardless of who they voted for. I'm inclined to believe that such is the contract, real or implied, between a democratic government and the citizens of that government.

Concerning a dictatorship, or any non-democratic form of government, I'm still inclined to believe that the adult citizens are still responsible for the actions of that goverment, though it is lkely that no rational concept of contract exists between citizens and government under those circumstances.

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Originally posted by Delmer
Many of the world's military personnel are volunteers.

I believe that all adult, mentally competant citizens of a democracy are responsible to a greater or lesser degree for the actions of that democracy regardless of who they voted for. I'm inclined to believe that such is the contract, real or implied, between a democratic government and the citizens of ...[text shortened]... ational concept of contract exists between citizens and government under those circumstances.
How is there responsibility where there is no control? I have no ability to prevent military decisions from being made. I cannot legally even share my opinions with the leader of my country, as he is sheltered from reality on a daily basis and prevented from finding out what people really think, in case he accidentally started to care.

I look forward to hearing your explanation of how I am responsible.

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Originally posted by reader1107
How is there responsibility where there is no control? I have no ability to prevent military decisions from being made. I cannot legally even share my opinions with the leader of my country, as he is sheltered from reality on a daily basis and prevented from finding out what people really think, in case he accidentally started to care.

I look forward to hearing your explanation of how I am responsible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_gore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_kerry

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_state_vs._blue_state_divide

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Originally posted by reader1107
How is there responsibility where there is no control? I have no ability to prevent military decisions from being made. I cannot legally even share my opinions with the leader of my country, as he is sheltered from reality on a daily basis and prevented from finding out what people really think, in case he accidentally started to care.

I look forward to hearing your explanation of how I am responsible.
What country do you live in? I have no idea from looking at your home page. You do not need to reach the leader of your country to share your opinions. Stop "cowering under your desk" and share your opinions with your local elected officials, send "Letters to the Editor" of your local newspaper, support organizations that are in accordance with your political opinions, there are all kinds of ways to express your political opinions. I believe that if you are a citizen of a country you do share responsibility for the actions of that country. If you do not wish to share in such responsibilty then you can break that contract by giving up your citizenship.

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Originally posted by Delmer
What country do you live in? I have no idea from looking at your home page. You do not need to reach the leader of your country to share your opinions. Stop "cowering under your desk" and share your opinions with your local elected officials, send "Letters to the Editor" of your local newspaper, support organizations that are in accordance with your political ...[text shortened]... share in such responsibilty then you can break that contract by giving up your citizenship.
your going to get the poor guy killed

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Originally posted by PocketKings
your going to get the poor guy killed
...while cowering under his desk.

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Originally posted by sasquatch672
I agree with your point, my friend, but it also backs up bin Laden's assertion that no innocent people died on 9.11. It's often said that people get the government they deserve. The world seems to agree with you as well. I have the opportunity in my profession to meet many members of foreign military services, and invariably, people respectfully (bec ...[text shortened]... ld do in his second term, all of a sudden disapproving of the guy. I don't get it.
I don't get it either, SQ, but I do feel that people cannot step aside and deny reponsibility of an organization's actions while remaining members of that organization. That seems like the worst kind of elitism. As to innocent and/or guilty people dying on 9.11, or any other time for that matter: I've never been comfortable with defining people as innocent or guilty. Those terms seem to be subjective to me and used for whatever propaganda purposes the speaker of them is promoting.