A Just War?

1. A Just War? It is always easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them. ~Alfred Adler “Ends do not justify means because we can never know the ends. The means, our actions, must be held up to careful scrutiny no matter what our anticipated goals” -Albert Camus

2. Journal #16 • Follow along as we read the following quotes as a class. • For each quote: • Explain how the speaker views war and briefly summarize his or her reason for this view • Explain how close their view of war comes to your own view and explain why.

3. By Pericles (Athens 450 BC) “Because of the greatness of our city the fruits of the whole earth flow in upon us…. And although our opponents are fighting for their homes and we on foreign soil, we seldom have any difficulty in overcoming them…. I have dwelt upon the greatness of Athens because I want to show you that we are contending for a higher prize than those who enjoy none of these privileges.”

4. Erasmus (Netherlands 1500s) “Tell me, what had you to do with Mars [the God of War], the stupidest of all the poet’s gods….? There is nothing more wicked, more disastrous, more widely destructive, more deeply tenacious, more loathsome…” “Whoever heard of a hundred thousand animals rushing together to butcher each other, as men do everywhere?... Once war has been declared, then all affairs of the State are at the mercy of the appetites of a few.”

5. Mark Twain (American Writer late 1800s) “The loud little handful will shout for war….The great mass of the nation will rub its sleepy eyes, and will try to make out why there should be a war, and they will say earnestly and indignantly: ‘It is unjust and dishonorable and there is no need for war.’ Then the few will shout even louder…. Before long you will see a curious thing: anti-war speakers will be stoned from the platform, and free speech will be strangled by hordes of furious men who still agree with the speakers but dare not admit it…. Next, the statesmen will invent cheap lies…and each man will be glad of these lies and will study them because they soothe his conscience; and thus will by and by convince himself that the war is just and he will thank God for a better sleep he enjoys by his self-deception.”

6. Helen Keller (American Socialist/Activist 1916) “Strike against war, for without you no battles can be fought! Strike against manufacturing shrapnel and gas bombs and all other tools of murder! Strike against preparedness that means death and misery to millions of human beings! Be not dumb, obedient slaves in an army of destruction! Be heroes in an army of construction!

7. Hi All! To Start Off Please Copy this Definition Into Your Notes: War Crime: "the wanton or reckless destruction of cities, towns and villages, and any devastation not justified by military, or civilian necessity” And Crimes against humanity (we’ll get to this later)

8. Plan For the Day Wrap Up Activity From Last Class Dresden and Tokyo – Messy Situations Involving War For the US Movie Clip On Civilians and War Did the US Commit War Crimes?

9. Yoshida Kashichi, “When Will This March End?” No matter how far we walk, We don’t know where we’re going Trudging along under dark jungle growth, When will this march end? Hide during the day, Move at night Deep in the lush Guadalcanal jungle Our rice is gone, Eating roots and grass Along the ridges and cliffs, Leaves hide the trail, we lose our way Stumble and get up, fall and get up, Covered with mud from our falls Blood oozes from our wounds, No cloth to bind our cuts Flies swarm to the scabs, No strength to brush them away Fall down and cannot move How many times I’ve thought of suicide.

10. Lessons Learned From Oral Histories

11. Back to the Definition War Crime: "the wanton or reckless destruction of cities, towns and villages, and any devastation not justified by military, or civilian necessity” And Crimes against humanity (we’ll get to this later)

12. How to Spot A War Crime Damage to civilians is excessive compared to the military advantage gained from attack. Boeing Field

13. Fire Bombing of Dresden – Feb. 1945 80 per cent of the city’s housing damaged 50 Percent Destroyed 25,000-35,000 Killed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFe7BZSoGMs

14. Arguments For And Against • The raid had legitimate military ends • Military defenses were close enough that city should not be considered undefended • Comparable to other raids against similar targets • The raid achieved the military objective, without "excessive" loss of civilian life. Served No True Military Purpose They Knew the Effects of Firebombing German Forces Already in Retreat German Defenses Were Very Weak Much Greater Damage to Civilians than Military Tartgets

15. Your Task - Explain whether or not the bombing of Dresden was justified. Another more legalistic way to put the question is: was the bombing of Dresden a war crime? You may argue for or against it as a war crime or whether or not you feel the bombing was justified. Create A Complete Outline With: 1) A Clear Thesis Statement and Three Supporting Reasons For Your Position 2) 3 Paragraphs Outlined Fully 3) Typed

16. Germany’s Last Stand Battle of the Bulge – Fierce German Offensive US and Soviet Troops rush to Berlin Hitler commits suicide on April 30th, 1945 VE-Day (victory Europe) May 7, 1945