h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A war is justified when the majority of the people discussing it think its justified. I'll get back to this later with a more meaningful statement.

The problem with "justifying" a war stems from the fact that all wars are avoidable, if everybody simply refuses to take up arms. But, when it comes to justifying ones participation in a war, things change. One cannot avoid a war that is thrust upon them; one can only choose to either capitulate or respond.

If war in self-defense is not justified, then it follows that none are; but I submit that self-defense is a normal, natural, and necessary reaction to armed aggression.

Turning the other cheek can be personally satisfying if one is personally wronged. You can feel really good being the 'good' person who lets it stop there. But, armed conflict, by a determined aggressor, doesn't stop at wronging one person. It threatens a people's very right to life, and their way of life.

Good points. When my school lets out in June, I may have time to write a guide entry about Just War, and what, if anything, it means.