Peace Essay
Just Wars for Just Cause
Can “good” or “just” wars exist? Throughout history, wars have often been called “just”. Can a just cause justify a just war? In Howard Zinn’s personal journey he asks his readers and himself these questions. Although pacifists like Zinn may not support just wars, sometimes the option for war for a just cause might be the only way for the world to have peace.
I believe that World War II is an example of a just war. I believe this because of the need to stop Hitler and fascism and for the United State to protect itself from further attacks like Pearl Harbour. The evils of Hitler, such as killing Jews in Germany and throughout Europe, attacking neighbouring counties of Germany with his military actions, and setting up a dictatorship in Germany that threatened world peace, forced the United States to make the difficult decision to enter the war. The atrocities of fascism, spreading across the continent of Europe taking away the land, freedom and lives of the people living in countries there, such as Italy, Spanish and Yugoslavia, made the United States government feel that military support was necessary because the United States didn’t agree with the principles of fascism. Finally, the horrible surprise attack on the American military base at Pearl Harbour by the Japanese was the deciding factor that pushed the United States into the war because the United States needed to protect Americans from foreign attacks. Another just war that I believe the United States became involved in is the Afghanistan war because Americans tried to help citizens stop terrorism in their country. I agree with Falk’s statement “The war in Afghanistan against apocalyptic terrorism qualifies in my understanding as the first truly just war since World War II.”
The response of the United States government after the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center in New York City is an example of just military action. If the United States didn’t use military
Can “good” or “just” wars exist? Throughout history, wars have often been called “just”. Can a just cause justify a just war? In Howard Zinn’s personal journey he asks his readers and himself these questions. Although pacifists like Zinn may not support just wars, sometimes the option for war for a just cause might be the only way for the world to have peace.
I believe that World War II is an example of a just war. I believe this because of the need to stop Hitler and fascism and for the United State to protect itself from further attacks like Pearl Harbour. The evils of Hitler, such as killing Jews in Germany and throughout Europe, attacking neighbouring counties of Germany with his military actions, and setting up a dictatorship in Germany that threatened world peace, forced the United States to make the difficult decision to enter the war. The atrocities of fascism, spreading across the continent of Europe taking away the land, freedom and lives of the people living in countries there, such as Italy, Spanish and Yugoslavia, made the United States government feel that military support was necessary because the United States didn’t agree with the principles of fascism. Finally, the horrible surprise attack on the American military base at Pearl Harbour by the Japanese was the deciding factor that pushed the United States into the war because the United States needed to protect Americans from foreign attacks. Another just war that I believe the United States became involved in is the Afghanistan war because Americans tried to help citizens stop terrorism in their country. I agree with Falk’s statement “The war in Afghanistan against apocalyptic terrorism qualifies in my understanding as the first truly just war since World War II.”
The response of the United States government after the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center in New York City is an example of just military action. If the United States didn’t use military
Bibliography: and citation: 9/10 Final grade: 95/100