America has just ended one disastrous war. We are still fighting another. But already some brave people are demanding yet another war. They will not send their own children, but they will call upon other parents to send theirs. Some parents might be willing to do so.
In my lifetime, I have too often heard parents say they “gave” their child to some patriotic cause, saying, “He died for his country,” or “She died for the cause.” Some causes may be worth dying for. But history and our own experience prove that too many wars, fired by patriotism, have been fed by lies and profiteers. We can all name wars clearly not worth the crippling, killing destruction of our children.
Parents must discourage their sons and daughters from rushing to war. If possible death does not deter them, statistical probabilities of being maimed or mentally damaged may. They should learn early, rather than too late, what wars cost actual people in physical and mental suffering. Not only do veterans suffer, but so do their friends and families, their partners, children and parents.
This is to say nothing about the relatively minor but nevertheless important monetary costs of war. To pay for past, present and future wars, our taxes and military budgets will continue to rise. The cost of veterans’ physical and mental health care, and for their spouses and children, has increased and will continue to increase dramatically.
These are facts that responsible parents must help their children understand. Wars do not breed peace. They breed more hatred, more wars and more dead and damaged people. Of course some veterans come home unhurt and completely normal. But what parents would want to gamble their children’s lives on a bad bet?
Above all, no parent should give a child to any cause. The age of sacrifice ended long ago. The Christian Bible, Jewish Torah and Muslim Quran all note Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his child, so as to prove he was obedient to God. As the Bible says, God first tempted Abraham to do so, but then commanded him not to do so.
If we must not sacrifice our children even for God, how can we possibly sacrifice them to a country?
Bruce Curtis, Emeritus Professor of American Studies at MSU
Support student media!
Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Discussion
Share and discuss “War not a cause worth dying for” on social media.
