Non-answers from Edwin Starr

I’m sitting out on the patio looking over Florence and writing this* in Microsoft Word because the internet is not working out here. MR has decided that, despite her initial excitement to write in her own blog, the lack of internet was a sign that she should do her reading for class instead. I don’t usually get signs like that for some reason.

Now on to the real point. War! (Crimes): What are they good for? International lawyers.

For the last hour of class today we discussed war crimes, which is a topic that has always puzzled me. CJ gave a very good outline of the importance of the difference between just and unjust wars and also noted that one of the most difficult parts of training new soldiers is explaining to them that war is not simply a free-for-all, but I cannot help but still have trouble understanding how a group of people could engage in killing another group while adhering to rules. When I try to think about it logically, war in general seems so incredibly barbaric to me. How is it possible that in this advanced day, when we have wireless internet (which admittedly does not always work) and space stations (at least, so long as you aren’t a conspiracy theorist), that we still get out on a battlefield and try to KILL each other? It all seems very childish and medieval, which I suppose is probably because the entire idea was conceived and is still largely carried out by men.

Edwin Starr says that war is good for absolutely nothing, which honestly does not help me figure it all out very much at all. If I leave the question of the purpose of war, however, and move on to war crimes, I begin to understand things better. I am pretty sure that war crimes were invented by (and, I suspect, for) international lawyers, who seem to have written them into the law after struggling with the same questions I am. Really, though, jus en bello and war crime laws don’t appear to me to be solving that many problems worldwide. If I were empress of the world**, I would require that countries sit down and have talks (which I hear they sometimes try). I believe that the men who decided war was a good idea need an order to sit down and talk, because they’re probably the same type of men who refuse to ask for directions. Wouldn’t it be nice if war were just a big misunderstanding that could be corrected by asking for directions?

Tomorrow we’re heading up to hike through Cinque Terre, which should be a nice break, and Sunday we’re planning to hang out around Florence. Time to go now for another awesome supper at the Villa. Shout-out to ABe for joining me in plaid day! Plaid shorts and skirts should be worn as often as possible and in the largest groups that can be coordinated.

*This is the phrase MR had hoped to start her blog off with today. I know this because she discussed her disappointment at not being able to write it. I figured if I used it we could all win.

**A title I aspire to