War Guilt?

Philosophy & Economics: Ethics

War Guilt?

Tags: war

Danny Chadwick June 12, 2014 at 12:23 am

I’ve only been taking the ideas of liberty seriously for about a year. The more I learn and grow, I can’t help but feeling immense guilt about my past beliefs and support of The State.

It is particularly painful when I think about the war in Iraq. I cheered the invasion and openly advocated for it. I even (briefly) enlisted in the military with the intention of going over to fight.

Now I realize how horrendous it was. I know that the war would have happened no matter what I did, and yet I can’t shake the feeling that I have at least a little blood on my hands.

Does anyone else struggle with this? And if so, what did you do to deal with this?

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

F.R. Fritz June 12, 2014 at 12:52 am

Having been in the military for 13 years, you learn how violence is always around you, it becomes second nature. Not a day goes by that we wonder if things could have been different. I believe in freedom, and I believe we must support it, and the only way to make that change is to do what you are doing, learn, grow, and especially speak out!

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

David Montgomery June 12, 2014 at 9:22 am

Danny, guilt is a wasteful emotion. We can’t change the past. In fundamental ways it’s apparent you’re a new person now.

My suggestion is to channel your emotional energy into doing good, right now. Speak the truth, keep educating yourself, and have compassion for those around you who have been conditioned as you were but haven’t figured things out yet.

Be a great communicator for advocating liberty — write, speak, perform — play to your personal strengths and skills.

Get involved in projects — either as a consumer, a collaborator, or an entrepreneur — that provide alternatives to state monopolies — Bitcoin, Uber, 3D printing — the possibilities are only constrained by our imagination and resourcefulness.

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

Cato June 16, 2014 at 1:44 am

Does any one do wrong? It is to himself that he does the wrong. Has anything happened to thee? Well; out of the universe from the beginning everything which happens has been apportioned and spun out to thee. In a word, thy life is short. Thou must turn to profit the present by the aid of reason and justice. Be sober in thy relaxation-Marcus Aurelius

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

Viewing 2 reply threads

Hello there! This is for members.

Not a member yet?

Join the global liberty community today.

Now FREE To Join

Get the Good Stuff

Discussions by Topic

Tag Cloud

More Discussions

Login