All right, all right, let’s have some facts here. Of the residents of the American colonies at the time of the revolution, only a third of them were patriots. Another third remained loyal to the British Empire to the bitter end, and the remainder were neutral. So the decision of whether or not to fight the most powerful empire in the world went well beyond valor and bravery; it was a question of whether you wanted to. And “the rest of the world” probably didn’t care too much about the colonists’ concerns; they just, like they always have, wanted to beat up on Britain (esp. true for the French, our biggest allies in that war).
Likewise, I don’t particularly care for violence, and I’d never even consider joining the military. If I were drafted, I’d point out that I’m not exactly soldier material (lotsa body fat, don’t exercise all that much, not particularly agile, not used to combat, armed or otherwise) and that I’d be better off serving in a noncombat capacity that feel within one of my proficiencies, say, typing, records management, or account-keeping. (This is hardly unusual; by one estimate, seven-eighths of the servicemen in Vietnam did these kind of mundane, noncombat tasks.) Before I’d even consider picking up the gun, someone would have to convince me that I’m serving a good cause…no way in hell am I risking my life to protect an unspeakably cruel dictatorship that’s at least as evil as the fanatical freedom fighters trying to take it over.
Yes, I’d dodge the draft if it came to that, and without the slightest twinge of guilt. “But Darrell, what if your country needs you! You have to defend your country!” Well, demonstrate to me that that’s exactly what I’ll be doing. It wasn’t the case in Vietnam (President Diem’s tenure makes Saddam Hussein look like a playground bully), it wasn’t the case in Iraq (Yeah, that absolute monarchy we saved really is a pillar of democracy, huh?), and it isn’t the case now…unless, of course, you actually see the logic in hunting for the Al Quaeda in Afghanistan instead of Saudi Arabia…you know, the nation they’re from?
So I’m a pacifist except when convinced otherwise. And there hasn’t been much to do that as of late.