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So, currently tempering the boredom of unemployment by mass watching of Babylon 5. Up to disc 2 of Season 4 now, and the end of the Shadow War has got me thinking.

What if the peoples of the world, people like you and me, none of whom particularly want or enjoy War, simply stood up to those intent on provoking them (and yes, this is usually both sides to some degree) and said no, enough is enough. Put down the guns, we will not fight for you. We will not allow you to fight.

Take the Israel / Palestine conflict, one which has dragged on for 50 years or more. What if their respective populace just said 'no' to more fighting. Would it work? Could it work?

If not, why not. Why does the common man assume he has so little power? We put them in power, why don't we kick them out of power? Even in Western Democracy, there is a certain 'well, that's that for the next few years' following a general election. Is this good enough? Should we demand more?

Id say if everyone actually said "that is enough" then yes it would work. The problem I see with that is humans as a whole are just to lazy to care. We are all of that mind set, that as long as it doesnt come into my house, I dont care. Its a good idea on paper, but would never EVER gain enough support to get off the ground. Same reason why world peace wont ever happen, not unless some huge corporation takes over. Even then it would just be us following their laws

Some people will always feel that their ideals are more important than the ideals of others (and will go to great lengths to prove themselves right and force their ideals onto others), and others will always take payment in exchange for any service (such as murdering any who oppose their benefactor). There are people who thrive off the weakness of others. If the refusal to continue to fight a war wasn't completely collective, then the people who refuse would get trampled underfoot. Even in the United States, where we have much more freedom to carry out protest than most countries which are actively involved in war, our protest efforts have done absolutely nothing to put armed conflict to an end. See the Vietnam War; that's a great example.

The common man holds no power when he's standing down the barrel of a gun. Even in a 'democracy', you don't have nearly as much power as you assume you do.

Mr Mystery wrote:So, currently tempering the boredom of unemployment by mass watching of Babylon 5. Up to disc 2 of Season 4 now, and the end of the Shadow War has got me thinking.

What if the peoples of the world, people like you and me, none of whom particularly want or enjoy War, simply stood up to those intent on provoking them (and yes, this is usually both sides to some degree) and said no, enough is enough. Put down the guns, we will not fight for you. We will not allow you to fight.

Take the Israel / Palestine conflict, one which has dragged on for 50 years or more. What if their respective populace just said 'no' to more fighting. Would it work? Could it work?

If not, why not. Why does the common man assume he has so little power? We put them in power, why don't we kick them out of power? Even in Western Democracy, there is a certain 'well, that's that for the next few years' following a general election. Is this good enough? Should we demand more?

If one group in a conflict said "no more fighting" it would be surrender. the other group could do whatever they wanted. most people arent willing to stomach the thought of abandoning all means of self defense, so no I dont think it could work. would be nice though.
AF

KingCracker wrote:Id say if everyone actually said "that is enough" then yes it would work. The problem I see with that is humans as a whole are just to lazy to care. We are all of that mind set, that as long as it doesnt come into my house, I dont care. Its a good idea on paper, but would never EVER gain enough support to get off the ground. Same reason why world peace wont ever happen, not unless some huge corporation takes over. Even then it would just be us following their laws

But if some big corporation did take over then you'd have different departments duking it out. Maybe not full scale assault weapons, but at the least a rumble a la Will Ferrel's Anchorman.

World peace, whilst great in theory, and beauty pageant Q&A sessions, has like communism no way of working in the real world.

There is no way everyone would stop fighting. There is always someone, somewhere who wouldn't give it up, and shoot all the passive resisters.

How would you intend on stopping those who wish to fight, if you refuse to do so?

I don't particularly like being deployed right now. I wish there was no need for it. But the fact of the matter is, that groups of people like the Taliban, and Al Qaida, won't listen to reason. They won't just agree to lay down there arms because you use stern words. They understand one thing. Violence, and that is how they need to be met.

We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

That is how the world operates, and how it will operate. It's an unfortunate thing, but one that will never change.