Invoking those who died in war to justify our waging war against the opponents is like opening windows and doors to an ailing asthma patient in cold season to let in fresh cold air. Some scholars argue that war is justified when avenging wrongs afflicted by an enemy (Vitoria et al 1917, pp 75) and many political leaders have been using the past experience to convince the public embrace violence as a means of honoring those who died fighting. Such was the case with the Basque nationalism under the leadership of its founder Sabino Aranay Goiri (1865-1903) who stood against modernization by creating the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) whose main agenda was to preserve Basque as deed their forefathers (Joseph T, 2005).
President Bush’s utterance on learning that 34 former cadets had died since the beginning of the war on terror is another example. He said,” We will honor the memory of those brave souls. We will finish the task for which they gave their lives. We will complete the mission” (David R. May 29, 2006). His utterance was meant to inspire the American people to embrace war to revenge for the harm caused by their enemy-to kill in retaliation. Indeed many young men were compelled to join in the fight and many were diploid to the regions perceived to be the brooding nest of the terrorists. Unfortunately many died. As a result we are left asking ourselves whether such moves by our leaders are the most appropriate and whether their utterances change the public’s stand against war.
Going by the opinion polls taken by different research firms over the use of military force on Iraq as opposed to diplomatic means, one learns that the American public is opposed to the use of force and more specifically war, as insisted by President Bush. His stand has lead to discontentment of the public in the Republican administration, him in particular. For example the opinion poll contacted by Bloonber poll on whether the United States should withdraw troops from Iraq right away, or should begin bringing troops home within the following year, or should troops stay in Iraq for as long as it takes to win the war revealed their discontentment (David R. May 29, 2006). The results of the polls were as follows; 20% of all registered voters were of the view that withdrawal right away was necessary, 43% preferred withdrawal within one year, 31% felt that the troops should stay as long as it takes and 6% were unsure (Los Angeles Times, 2008).
Another poll contacted by New York Times poll on the question “who do you think is currently winning the war in Iraq: the US, or the Iraqi resistance and insurgents, or neither side, the polls were as follows; 24% said US was winning, 12% thought insurgents were winning, 60% said neither US nor insurgents was winning and 4% were unsure (New York poll, Dec 9 2007) These two polls indicate that American people were constantly against use of force as a retaliation to the harm inflicted on them by their enemies but instead preferred a different approach to be used in solving the problem. This is in contrast to President Bush’s call for completing the mission started by the slain cadets.
The polls affirm my argument that invoking the dead as a means of legalizing war and change people’s stand against violence is not the best alternative. It does not make them embrace war as a retaliatory means for the lost souls instead a more appropriate means, diplomatic solution for example, be employed as was the opinion of many Americans before troops were sent to Iraq. They preferred a diplomatic approach rather than use of military force, an approach taken by President Bush and his administration (Joseph T, 2005). War should be the last resort after all other alternatives have failed.
Work cited
Vitoria, Francisco de. De Indis et al. Ivre Belli Relectiones. Ed. Ernest Nys. Trans. John Pawley Bate. Washington: Carnegie Institute, 1917. pp 68-80.
David Rabin, 2006; Examining the Rhetoric of Wartime Sacrifice Morning Edition (NPR).
Joseph J. Thorndike, 2005; Historical Perspective: Sacrifice and Surcharge. Taxanalysts.