Six Arguments Against War


It seems like war is more prevalent than ever. Whether you agree with that consensus or not, you can’t deny the fact that war is fairly consistent in virtually all current forms of society, and it has been something of a mainstay throughout history.

The fact of the matter is that whether a war is popular or unpopular with the general population, there are always going to be people who take a strong anti-war stance. There are several reasons as to why they might go this route. People generally have at least one or two strong arguments that they feel sums up why war is a regrettable, tragic course of action. Some people will have several clear-cut arguments in place that are designed to protest war, deconstruct the so-called reasons as to why war is a necessary component to civilized life, and illustrate the alternatives that are in fact available.

Someone who is new to the anti-war mentality is going to find the discovery of the arguments against war to be fascinating.

Ten Anti-War Arguments

The potential for new wars exists every day. Numerous conflicts are going on across the globe, even as these words are being typed.

no to war photo
Photo by World Can’t Wait

For past conflicts, current wars, and future events, these are some of the arguments against war that people are likely to be taken:

  • War is war: Even if human solider never touches the actual ground of the country they’re fighting in, even if it’s purely a war of technology, it is still war.
  • People are tired of wars: Even in situations in which public opinion of a certain war is quite high, people are by and large still very wary of everything that war can potentially entail.
  • The political component: As people are becoming increasingly aware of the political motivations behind a war, the concept of “just” wars is rapidly becoming extinct on a grand scale.
  • The war companies: We are becoming increasingly aware of how many different companies stand to gain extraordinary financial rewards for participating in a war.
  • Governments are no longer seen as being as trustworthy as they once were: Vietnam, the lack of WMDs in Iraq. These are things that have created auras of distrust, ready to meet a country that claims it has just cause for war.
  • War is expensive: Imagine how much money has been spent on war in the past ten years. Then imagine how that many could potentially have been spent on food, clothing, and education.

Essential Anti-War Arguments

nelson mandela photo
Photo by Imaginary Museum Projects: News Tableaus

To some, taking an anti-war stance seems like simple common sense. However, there are people every single day who are becoming increasingly aware of some of the arguments that serve to drive the entire anti-war concept. These people are going to discover a myriad of viable reasons as to why war is not the answer.

In short, they will discover the short-term and long-term devastation that war is capable of. They will begin to learn about the true motivating factors behind war, and they will begin to see why war is a concept that is destroying lives, progress, and more in one fell swoop.

War isn’t likely to disappear from the global landscape anytime soon. However, as more and more people learn about essential anti-war arguments, the number of people who protest war in some or all forms is going to increase.

Some believe that the louder the voices against war become, the more powerful the anti-war movement as a whole is going to get.

nelson mandela photo
Photo by Images George Rex

Anti-War Basics

Taking an anti-war stance can sometimes mean taking an unpopular stance. In some cases, it can even mean taking a stance that will put the individual in danger. Many wars are met with disbelief and anger by a majority of the country in which the war is either declared or actually based in. However, many wars are met with strong public approval. For example, World War II was seen by a majority of people from the participating countries as a just and necessary war.

On the flip side of that, there are wars that are met with a growing mistrust, which can eventually become complete outrage. The U.S.’s involvement in Vietnam is a good example of this.

Whether there is a strong anti-war sentiment in the air during a time of conflict, or if public opinion is favorable towards the conflict in question, there are several arguments a person can make against the case for war:

  • War is immoral and unethical. With the financial and political reasons behind many wars, many see war as simply being an immoral and unethical concept.
  • The murder of innocent people is wrong. Regardless of how “popular” a war actually is, the fact remains that innocent people are going to die in the struggle.
  • Life is sacred and deserving of respect. Some believe that all life is sacred, and is therefore deserving of respect.
  • War risks the future of humanity.
  • War is completely incapable of achieving meaningful social and political goals.




iraq photo
Photo by The U.S. Army

War has been part of the human history of thousands of years. It has crippled societies and crashed down beautiful cities. Why do we crave war? Why do people fight each other just because they think they have the God given right to change another group of people’s beliefs?

War is a Waste of Life

WARS KILL. That is the basic element of wars. Young men and women are sent off to far flung countries to face eminent death. Each step in an unknown land could be their last. They are ripped away from their families and friends.

You may argue that they are but protecting their country but why? Because either another country has challenged and disagreed with America or because their motherland wants to prove that they are better than the opponent country.

Wars may stem from damaging another country, having territorial disputes or whatever nonsense it is but I disagree that engaging in war can lead to a better outcome. It kills people. It destroys dreams.

Americans from time and time again is seen as the great Uncle Sam. Ready to fight and join in war to defend ideologies such as democracy and freedom. Why should we waste the lives in the battlefield when we can talk like civilized people. We do love our country. We love the American freedom but we should also respect other countries.

War Brings About Death to other Countries

The Vietnam War is one of the best examples that America is not magnanimous. We can be defeated. We meddled in a war in a country because we thought that communism was wrong. We supported an oppressive colonial rule of France in Vietnam. Our paranoia about Communism spreading in South East Asia launched severe airstrikes on Vietnam, killing millions of people.

The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki destroyed Japan in a monstrous way. Yes the Japanese may have been at fault but killing several millions of innocent people cannot be justified. Up until now the radiation brought about by the bombing has caused severe deformities in people.

Wars are a Waste of Resources

When our troops went to fight in Iraq the prices of oil went much higher. In that time we only imported oil at $23 for one barrel. However the war has caused the prices of oil to shoot up. In order to stop the economy from automatically crashing the Federal Banks responded by creating an economic bubble. This bubble allowed to have lesser regulations and lower interest rates. When the bubble finally burst it created the recent Recession. It was a domino effect of a war craved President.

Our people suffered. I saw people being stripped of their homes. Some were living inside their cars. Children went to bed without eating. The United States of America became weak and vulnerable. The American people became helpless and poor. This should have never happened.

iraq photo
Photo by The U.S. Army

We Can Stop the Nonsense Called War

Not all Muslims are terrorists. Not all Chinese want to overpower the United States. Being from a different belief system should never make us treat our brothers like germs that need to exterminate.

As corny as it may sound I want to say we need WORLD PEACE. If we learn to love and talk and agree to disagree the world would be a much happier place. Democracy is not the supreme and ultimate form of governance. We should learn to respect one another.

Waging war has cost many lives. Lives of young men and women who are turned inside out. Trauma has plagued our veterans. War has broken families. It has left young widows and parentless children. We should then commit into promoting peace and love for one another.

War is one of the most senseless acts that humans have devised to force another party to agree with them. It is much likes animals fighting for dominance. If we engage in such crude acts what makes us different from animals? We are humans, we should always be humane and prove our humanity.

Thanks for reading this post, I know these are distressing topics but we must take them seriously.  However life isn’t all about fighting and conflict and  while we must do our best to end it, we must not become obsessed with the negative. If you need a bit of lighthearted reading to refocus your brain for a bit why not think about love for a bit and visit The Love