NationStates Jolt Archive


Fighting for your Country

Begoned
04-03-2006, 02:22
I just read a poll saying that over 50% of US citizens agree with the following statement: we should all be willing to fight for our country, whether right or wrong. The results seriously scared me. Do you agree with that statement (poll coming)?
The Parkus Empire
04-03-2006, 02:27
Well Yammamoto fought like heck for Japan when he knew they were wrong, and I admire him deeply. IF I was in the military I would ALMOST always fight for my nation, unless they were REALLY bad, like Hitler bad. If on the other hand I wasn't in the military (which i'm not) I would not join, help or support the war in any way.
Europa Maxima
04-03-2006, 02:28
I find such forms of extreme nationalism idiotic. To defend the nation, perhaps yes. To fight against another nation in its name? Hell no.
Kamsaki
04-03-2006, 02:30
I'd fight for my country. I don't currently own a country, though.
New Genoa
04-03-2006, 02:34
I'd fight for my country. I don't currently own a country, though.

What about on NationStates?
Questers
04-03-2006, 02:36
Bah, I'd always fight for my country if it was desperate... (EG WW2) if it was something like the Falklands i'd always support the troops and our government, if it was something like Iraq i'd support our troops but not the government (in that decision) and if it was like the Holocaust I'd definetly rebel against the government.

Note I said fight, not die. There is a difference between dying for your country and fighting for it.
Kamsaki
04-03-2006, 02:36
What about on NationStates?
Yes... see, I don't know if it's quite been explained to you, but even although it seems like you're running a country, it's not actually Real... </brimming with sarcasm>

:p
Begoned
04-03-2006, 02:38
Yes... see, I don't know if it's quite been explained to you, but even although it seems like you're running a country, it's not actually Real... </brimming with sarcasm>

:p

You lie! And here I was thinking all I had to do was enter a username, password, and an e-mail address (optional, of course), and I would get a country. I am greatly disillusioned. I will go cry, now. :(
Franberry
04-03-2006, 02:39
Yes, always fight for the patria
Tactical Grace
04-03-2006, 02:41
I doubt anyone would willingly fight for their country if they thought the policy was against the national interest. The trouble is, most people do not take the trouble to educate themselves to a sufficient standard where they can spot the signs.
Thriceaddict
04-03-2006, 02:42
Hell no! I'd run screaming like a girl, wetting my pants, even if my country was right:)
M3rcenaries
04-03-2006, 02:42
I would fight for my country, but only if I believed in the cause.
Begoned
04-03-2006, 02:46
Hell no! I'd run screaming like a girl, wetting my pants, even if my country was right:)

Yup, that sounds like what I'd do, too.
Harlesburg
04-03-2006, 03:13
What about on NationStates?
I would Harlesburg is so Cultured and has pleasant Weather.
Neu Leonstein
04-03-2006, 03:14
List of countries by "Will fight for country" (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/lif_wil_fig_for_cou)

Personally I can't quite see why someone would want to fight for one's country. Perhaps I can understand when people fight for their fellow humans, but a country is far too abstract a concept to just use as an excuse like this.

At any rate, if you feel like it, fine. If you don't, even better. No one should be forced to fight or die for one's country if they don't want to.
Magdha
04-03-2006, 03:25
I'd fight for any non-fascist/non-Nazist country that was fighting against communism and/or socialism.
Europa Maxima
04-03-2006, 03:26
I'd fight for any non-fascist/non-Nazist country that was fighting against communism and/or socialism.
Why? It would simply allow for your nation to become all the more powerful, both in international and domestic terms. The less competition there is for power, the worse off everyone is.
Soheran
04-03-2006, 03:47
Right, wrong, whatever, one should not fight for an illegitimate imposition like most modern states.

We are all human beings, and it is the human species - not a country, not a piece of cloth, not some beloved "leader" - that we should be fighting for. If that involves making alliances with states, so be it, but only in service to a greater objective.
Luporum
04-03-2006, 03:50
Depends, if there was a boatload of angry screaming Chinamen washing up on the shores of Jersey *shrugs* I would fight.

If they tried to enlist me for Operation Desert Yield (Iran) then I would most likely be moving to our humble neighbors to the north.
Commie Catholics
04-03-2006, 03:52
The way I see it, if we don't fight because we're in the wrong, and the other country does fight because they're in the right, then we'll be taken over by the filthy foreigners. Which is undesireable. I'd rather die in a wrongful war than have to learn to speak chinese.
HeyRelax
04-03-2006, 03:58
I consider myself a citizen of the world, more than a citizen of any one country.

My loyalty to right and wrong, and the concept of innocence is far greater than my concept of duty I have to any individual elected leader.

If my country were invaded, I'd say I have a duty to defend it. If my country invades another on the other hand, I have no duty to support them whatsoever.
Antanjyl
04-03-2006, 04:00
I would only fight for myself or my own personal ideals. I couldn't help being born in a country that I was born in, so why would I die for one? A country is just a chunk of land with laws tacked onto it.
Hobovillia
04-03-2006, 04:06
I just read a poll saying that over 50% of US citizens agree with the following statement: we should all be willing to fight for our country, whether right or wrong. The results seriously scared me. Do you agree with that statement (poll coming)?
Well, the funny thing is that I am sure when faced with Drafting there would be riots. Its all talk. Oh and mass moves to Canada. 'Cause we all know Canada is cool:D
Questers
04-03-2006, 10:50
Why? It would simply allow for your nation to become all the more powerful, both in international and domestic terms. The less competition there is for power, the worse off everyone is.

Because he is the stereotypical American, and has an unhealthy hatred of Communism.
Ulrichland
04-03-2006, 10:55
I'd defend my home from [direct] foreign aggression.
The Keyi
04-03-2006, 20:08
I would gladly give my life to better the Keyi (yeah, it is real- see my thread called Secrets You Have That You Don't Want To Be Secrets Anymore)
Call to power
04-03-2006, 20:28
I would fight (and die) for my country even if I believed it wasn't right

the limit of what I would do (excluding the chance me curling up into a ball and crying) would be charging at a machine gun emplacement and but scarcely I don't know where I would say "NO" if I felt my country was in real danger
The Similized world
04-03-2006, 20:36
List of countries by "Will fight for country" (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/lif_wil_fig_for_cou)

Personally I can't quite see why someone would want to fight for one's country. Perhaps I can understand when people fight for their fellow humans, but a country is far too abstract a concept to just use as an excuse like this.

At any rate, if you feel like it, fine. If you don't, even better. No one should be forced to fight or die for one's country if they don't want to.If it wasn't for System Bolaget, I'd fight for Sweden too. It isn't my country, but..
Sdaeriji
04-03-2006, 20:45
List of countries by "Will fight for country" (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/lif_wil_fig_for_cou)

Personally I can't quite see why someone would want to fight for one's country. Perhaps I can understand when people fight for their fellow humans, but a country is far too abstract a concept to just use as an excuse like this.

At any rate, if you feel like it, fine. If you don't, even better. No one should be forced to fight or die for one's country if they don't want to.

It's fighting for your home and your ideals. If you live your life a particular way, and a group of people that aren't from there try to come and force you to abandon your ways and adopt theirs, it's only natural to rebel against that and stand up for what you believe in.
Pompous world
04-03-2006, 20:51
I wouldnt fight for my country as my ideals and values arent tied to it. However if my country was fighting against another whose ideals were specifically against my own, I might consider it.
Call to power
04-03-2006, 20:59
If it wasn't for System Bolaget, I'd fight for Sweden too. It isn't my country, but..

I think we would all fight for a Swedish supermodel
-Mu-
04-03-2006, 21:00
I know that this is going to cause a bit of an uproar, but I would never fight or die for "my country." First of all, I am an advocate of nonviolence and I don't believe in murder which is basically what the bulk of any war is in essence, only in a seemingly legitimate form. Also, I think it is absurd to make distinctions between nations, states, countries, whatever you wish to call them, and even more absurd to defend these geographic boundaries of illusory power. How about just recognizing that people make up something called humanity instead? I could keep going on, but I think I've made my point.
Praetonia
04-03-2006, 22:19
I would always fight for my country, if it was necessary. I agree with Questers that it would be unnecessary in something like Iraq which does not threaten British national security and the army does not need any more manpower. However, if the country were under threat for whatever reason then I would definately join up and defend Britain.
Aryavartha
04-03-2006, 22:33
If it is an invasion, I would fight (for ex, I volunteered for the Kargil war, but was turned down by the recruiter).

If it is not immediately related to the defense of my country, I will not fight a war. For ex, if India decides to send troops to Iraq to fight under a non-UN banner, I would oppose it.
Cheese penguins
04-03-2006, 22:41
Dulce et decorum est!! the poem by wilfred owen shows my opinion on this, it is fu***ng stupid to die for ones country in a conflict that need not happen!! but if it is a conflict that could not be avoided then to die with what i would consider honour in my opinion is correct. (The old lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori. the last lines of the poem. this translates to: it is sweet and right to die for ones country.) full poem here (http://www.english.emory.edu/LostPoets/Dulce.html)
Unogal
04-03-2006, 22:44
I read a thing once that said 80% of people in the US are in favor of some form of universal healthcare
Celtlund
04-03-2006, 22:45
Note I said fight, not die. There is a difference between dying for your country and fighting for it.

Not a lot as fighting for it can lead to dying for it.
Celtlund
04-03-2006, 22:54
I would only fight for myself or my own personal ideals. I couldn't help being born in a country that I was born in, so why would I die for one? A country is just a chunk of land with laws tacked onto it.

A country is far more than a "chunck of land with laws tacked onto it." If you don't beleive that, why not move to Chad, Somolia, Nigeria, or Iran? After all, it is only a chunk of land with a few laws and you should be able to live just as well there as in the country you are currently living in. I'm sure you would have just as many educational and economic opportunities as you do now. :(
Aryavartha
04-03-2006, 22:57
Not a lot as fighting for it can lead to dying for it.

I am not sure. If I sign up, I understand I can possibly die in the act of fighting. But I am not signing up for dying, I am signing up for fighting.

Just because I am willing to take that risk, does not mean that I am wanting for that risk to happen. Or does it?
Intangelon
04-03-2006, 22:57
I just read a poll saying that over 50% of US citizens agree with the following statement: we should all be willing to fight for our country, whether right or wrong. The results seriously scared me. Do you agree with that statement (poll coming)?
The poll should be FAR clearer that "right or wrong" is a part of your answer. Just "fight for your country" doesn't give enough information to get the answer you're looking for, and in fact, it's misleading. I will fight for my country if the cause is just or if we're being invaded. When we're wrong, my country makes me sad.
Celtlund
04-03-2006, 23:20
I am not sure. If I sign up, I understand I can possibly die in the act of fighting. But I am not signing up for dying, I am signing up for fighting.

Just because I am willing to take that risk, does not mean that I am wanting for that risk to happen. Or does it?

No, no soldier wants to die but they realize they could.
Neu Leonstein
05-03-2006, 00:40
It's fighting for your home and your ideals. If you live your life a particular way, and a group of people that aren't from there try to come and force you to abandon your ways and adopt theirs, it's only natural to rebel against that and stand up for what you believe in.
But that never happens. Especially not in the US (and presumably not in Norway or Sweden either).

People almost never fight to actually protect their environment. They fight for abstract notions of national interests. Indeed, eversince people wore silly wight wigs, I don't think anyone from the US has fought in order to actually protect their friends and family.

And no, the Japanese were never going to occupy the US, or change their way of life. All they wanted was a free hand in Asia.
Heikoku
05-03-2006, 18:33
I know that this is going to cause a bit of an uproar, but I would never fight or die for "my country." First of all, I am an advocate of nonviolence and I don't believe in murder which is basically what the bulk of any war is in essence, only in a seemingly legitimate form. Also, I think it is absurd to make distinctions between nations, states, countries, whatever you wish to call them, and even more absurd to defend these geographic boundaries of illusory power. How about just recognizing that people make up something called humanity instead? I could keep going on, but I think I've made my point.

*Steals all the cookies in the world, gives them to Mu*

You won the thread.

Perfect post, I couldn't agree more.

*Clapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclap*
Potarius
05-03-2006, 18:35
I find such forms of extreme nationalism idiotic. To defend the nation, perhaps yes. To fight against another nation in its name? Hell no.

I feel the same way. But, if my country is shit, and the invading country is good (and is invading my country because we attacked them), then bring on the new order.
Laerod
05-03-2006, 18:39
I just read a poll saying that over 50% of US citizens agree with the following statement: we should all be willing to fight for our country, whether right or wrong. The results seriously scared me. Do you agree with that statement (poll coming)?No. (my poll option isn't up there)