Response to “The Politics of Rescue”

Before reading this article, I always felt that the United States should not intervene in other countries’ internal affairs. I believed that we had too many problems in our own cities that needed remedy before we went out fixing other people’s problems. Although I still mostly feel this way, this article helped me to recognize and understand viable reasons why the United States should intervene. When people are being made “…victims of [radical] tyranny, ideological zeal, [or] ethnic hatred…”, then I can accept the arguments for foreign intervention. If vast numbers of these victims are being exiled, tortured, or murdered, then I may even have to agree with the arguments. To take it a step further, if the victims themselves are crying out for the foreign interventions, then I do not see how they can be denied.

Response to "Our Moral Duty in Iraq"

After reading this article, I have found that I do not necessarily agree with Powers and his opinions on the United States war in Iraq. I do not think that we have any moral obligation toward the Iraqi people. Nor do I think that it is our job to right the injustices of their society. I feel that we need to fix the problems in our own country before we even think about the others. What about the homeless and the starving in our own cities? Should we not end the gang wars in our streets before we attempt to end them in another country? When the author talks of “…end[ing] the war between Sunnis and Shiites….” I wonder is he is aware that these groups have been fighting for ages. Jews and Muslims have been warring over Jerusalem since their religions began. They are not going to cease and be peaceful just because the United States has decided it is time. We are attempting to resolve centuries old resentments in one generation’s era. It is just not going to happen. So, why do we not put our efforts towards bettering our own people instead of wasting them on foreign issues that we cannot solve?

Response to “The Moral Equivalent of War”

I think that William James was ahead of his time when writing this essay. The ideas and situations he discusses are ones that our country is dealing with now. The solution he proposes to “…get the desire to fight out of men…” is “…a conscription of the whole youthful population to form for a certain number of years a part of the army….” In our present day this idea is used in some countries. One example that I am familiar with is Italy. At the age of eighteen, all Italian males must join the Italian army for a certain amount of time (I am not sure exactly how long). This military enlistment is mandatory and I believe it has a very positive affect on the entire society. Italy has a very low crime rate. Certain crimes that are on the rise in America are unheard of over there, such as rape and gang violence. It is not a problem because these crimes are rarely committed. If you think about it, this is probably because the young males are given a positive outlet for their aggression while at the same time being taught discipline and the proper virtues of men. The population as a whole is much calmer and laid back and the people are truly able to enjoy life, no matter what class they are labeled into. Compared to the American people, they are complete opposites. I think this is all caused by the mandatory military experience and training that all the Italian men must go through while they are still young.