Three Laws of War

Reasonable and necessary measures to prevent unnecessary and self-destructive war.

1. Forbid all taking of profit from military industries. Put an end to the possibility that anyone could get rich from any military enterprise. If all are asked to sacrifice their lives, why should not a few be asked to sacrifice their profits? If high principle is thought a sufficient motive for many, why should the profit motive be considered indispensable for a few?

How much we pay them
2. Recognize that the outbreak of war in any form is a failure of government and of statesmanship. Let those who make or allow any war be the first into battle.
3. Require all the able-bodied to serve. Old and young alike have fought before in wars of national defense, such as the American Revolution, and they should be expected to do so again; "able-bodied" should mean "able to walk and to work." So far as possible, exemptions should be granted to the young, who have the greatest number of useful years still to live and have had the least time to understand the principles we wish to defend.
Three Laws written by Wendell Berry.

Comments

  1. kathyJanuary 17, 2009 at 10:59 PM

    That Wendell Berry collection is fabulous. I'm excited to finish it.

    ReplyDelete

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