The great educator and philosopher, John Dewey, was all for American involvement in World War I. Until it was over, that is. He rejoined the ranks of pacifists like Jane Addams when he understood that the hype of making the world safe for democracy was just that -- hype.
More and more, as I watch the global situation unravel, I get closer to accepting the pacifist creed that no war is worth fighting. Any pacifist will likely agree that defense of a nation's sovereignty and existence is the only acceptable use of violence, but these days our wars are never in that category. Our wars are not only wars of choice, they are inherently destructive to our own national coherence. They don't unite, they don't affirm our values, and they don't achieve their self-declared aims. It's no safer here now than it was in March 2003, an irony that shouldn't be lost on any American.
Like Dewey, many of us who thought that firm, decisive action after 9/11 would pave the way for a world without terror, democracy in the Middle East, and tranquillity at home will come to change our minds when this is over. If it is over in our lifetimes.
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