A Glossary for the Times

Posted on March 21, 2003 in War

A brief glossary. I’m offering this because of the confusion about what it means to be “pro-peace”. All these people will claim to be “pro-peace” (though I take the claims of the pacifists to be the most accurate).

1. Absolute pacifism holds that you are not violent ever. You might be a vegetarian or vegan, but this is not required. You do not own a gun. You may refuse to pay your income taxes because they finance the military. You will not join the military or undertake military training. You will not give soldiers anything that you would not give to anyone, such as medical assistance. Their boys matter as much as our boys. You are often called a coward. Standing up for your conscience is the greatest thing a person can do.
   
   
   
2. Pacifism is a broader term that includes people who might be violent under certain narrow circumstances (such as the classic “There’s an Iraqi soldier raping your wife: what do you do?”) You might be a vegetarian or vegan, but this is not required. The pacifist does not prepare to be violent or keep weapons around the house, except maybe as a hobby or for hunting. You may refuse to pay your income taxes because they finance the military. The unifying point is that the pacifist refuses to prepare her or himself to respond violently to a situation and opposes militarism. You are often called a coward. You will not join the military or undertake military training. You will not give soldiers anything that you would not give to anyone, such as medical assistance. Their boys matter as much as our boys. Standing up for your conscience is the greatest thing a person can do.
   
   
   
3. Just War Theory holds that war may be necessary under certain circumstances. You have defined a very specific set of principles under which war is justified. Taking land for resources and pre-emptive strikes are not among these. You oppose attacks on civilians and things like carpet bombing, the use of nuclear weapons, the use of chemical agents, and germ warfare. Defense of one’s country and home is nearly always just. You may or may not own a gun. You might be a vegetarian or vegan, but this is not required except, perhaps, under certain circumstances. You believe in a military for reasons of defense of the homeland and the occasional allied action designed to help another nation to evict an invader from their territory. You generally avoid advocacy of committing troops in civil wars except as peacekeepers. You may be called a coward or a militarist. You might join the military as an act of conscience for the purpose of national defense, but you may also object to serving in unjust wars. You may send your own troops care packages even if you oppose the war. You may decide that the cause of the enemy is more just than your own. Standing up for your conscience is the greatest thing a person can do. Serving in a just war is also a reason for pride.
   
   
   
4. Militarism holds that not only is a strong defense necessary, but that a strong army capable of taking out the enemy is essential to peace and national pride. You might be a vegetarian or vegan for reasons of personal health, but this is not required. You may or may not own a gun. Pre-emptive strikes are fine. Bombing is also great. When it is “strategically essential”, nuclear weapons, chemical agents, and germ warfare may be used. You might be called a “killer” or a fascist. You are all for giving soldiers every special privilege in society. You might respect the enemy enough to praise their fighting spirit and give them a decent burial. Serving as a soldier is the greatest possible glory that a person may attain.
   
   
   
5. Undecided people tend to try to please everyone. Your set of principles may draw from all of these philosophies and you may advance opposing views in defense of yourself. Preserving their quality of life seems to be a higher value than conscience, though couching their self-defenses as matters of conscience is routine. Others may call you “wishy-washy”, which is due to their perception that you change sides frequently or that you lack a clear set of principles. It may be that you unconsciously serve military or other despotic interests by your failure to take a stand against your perceived interests. You may or may not own a gun. You might be a vegetarian or vegan. You are concerned about not making waves or “getting political”. You may (or may not) accuse pacifists of being “hateful” because they will not support our troops in time of war by putting out yellow ribbons, sending care packages, or making similar gestures. You are also uncomfortable around militarists.