War and immigration....and an endless cycle of stupidity.

[marmar]

Independence, Imperialism and Immigrants
by Tom Turnipseed

Was the American War for Independence morally justifiable? Is any war?

In my most recent essay on the Iraq War I used strong language to voice my opposition to that war. I believe it is wrong. I said that my opposition to war, indeed any war, is based on a belief that intentional killing for retribution, empire, or other noble and high sounding aspirations, such as establishing freedom and democracy in the world, is far out-weighed by war’s collateral damage to non-combatants like the innocent women and children who suffer and die as a consequence of war.

The piece provoked interesting responses--pro and con. One questioned my intent, protesting, "Some wars...are morally justifiable, such as the American War for Independence."

I replied that I aspire to convince people that war and violence to get even with, take from, and/or oppress other people anywhere in the world is morally wrong—was then, still is!

European imperialism and genocide against the indigenous Native Americans allowed Europeans to take over what became the United States. European conquest of North America created an American Empire. Was it morally justifiable?

One of the principal causes of the American War for Independence fought by the Continental colonials against Britain was Britain's demand that the colonials pay taxes for the money spent in the French and Indian Wars to secure territory in what became the Eastern part of United States. A 21 year old Virginian named George Washington was an officer for the British colonials. The colonials greatly benefited from the struggles between imperial England and imperial France over control of the Eastern half of North America. Indigenous Native Americans had inhabited the land for at least 10 to 20 thousand years. The British colonials exploited Native Americans and pitted them against the vast majority of Native Americans who sided with the French. Europeans took North America from the indigenous peoples by force and deceit.

The rest of the article is at: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0625-20.htm