Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for February 21, 2011

  1. Emerald
    margueritem  about 13 years ago

    He’s shaken by your profound question.

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    Yukoner  about 13 years ago

    Out of the mouths of babes.

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    Charles Evans Premium Member about 13 years ago

    Easy question Calvin, when you’re attacked you either fight back or become part of the group that attacked. Your choice.

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    papaernz  about 13 years ago

    If you can’t beat them, join them.

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    rentier  about 13 years ago

    When I was a child I asked this very often!

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  6. Hobbes
    Hobbes Premium Member about 13 years ago

    Ok, so, it’s Monday morning, and we turn to the comics for a little light chuckle to start off our week. Instead, Calvin is asking an incredibly profound question.

    At the root of the world’s problems is the problem of evil. Which brings up the issue of using war to try to address the problem of evil. Which brings up the issue of whether war itself is right or wrong, good or evil, or some shade of gray in-between. Which brings up the previous topic of black-and-white thinking. Which brings up the issue of being forced to choose the lesser of evils when confronted with no good options. Which brings up the question of whether some wars can be justified and some can not. Which brings up the issue of how to decide which ones can and which ones can’t. Which brings up the issue of whether wars in the name of religion can be justified. Which brings up an endless number of other issues.

    Ironically, two weeks ago, Calvin’s dad complained that Calvin sees the world in black and white. But today, Calvin has asked a question that involves so many shades of gray that his dad cannot answer it.

    Some days are a lot easier for all of us to deal with, when the main problem on our minds is that Stupendous Man is having trouble getting into his snow pants.

    – Hobbes

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    Francine Long  about 13 years ago

    What a really deep, profound question from Calvin! And yes, different nations, tribes and groups do attack and sometimes it seems as if the only answer is to try to kill as many of them as you can. That is conventional thinking. But the question remains,

    “How do soldiers killing each other solve the world’s problems?”

    The simple answer is that it will never solve the world’s problems.

    My feeling is that only God can do that.

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    titanicus  about 13 years ago

    I don’t think that Calvin’s Dad cannot answer it, he just doesn’t want to answer it with an obvious answer - it doesn’t help one bit to solve anything (unless the complete annihilation of the other side ends the conflict).

    As Calvin correctly surmises, adults just act like they know what they’re doing.

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    zeeny  about 13 years ago

    Calvin! take it easy wid dad……can’t u see how shocked he is??

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    GROG Premium Member about 13 years ago

    A profound question with no easy answer!

    Good Morning, Marg, Mike & ♠Lonewolf!♠!

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    runninanreadin  about 13 years ago

    Amen.

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    Ooops! Premium Member about 13 years ago

    Yeah, that sounds about right Calvin.

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    DerkinsVanPelt218  about 13 years ago

    Support our troops Honor our veterans

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    Bittermelon of Truth  about 13 years ago

    Nabuquduriuzhur said: “In dealing with a tiger, one either is eaten or one defeats the tiger.”

    Unless it’s Hobbes that we are talking about. Then Calvin is stuck trying to explain to Mom why his toy stole his PBJ sandwich!

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    stupendus_spiff  about 13 years ago

    When I was in kindergarten, I asked the teacher how airplanes are able to stay up in the sky. She paused, then replied “that’s a good question”.

    It’s true that grown-ups often don’t know what they’re doing. But it’s also true that five year olds may not be ready to understand the concept of aerodynamic lift, any more than they can understand how camp guards can march children clutching their stuffed animals into a gas chamber.

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    Rakkav  about 13 years ago

    Calvin (and Our Hobbes), when A.A. Milne put forward his plea for pacifism, Peace With Honour, before WWII he got a lot of people thinking about this question. One of the most interesting responses to the Times of London was along these lines (paraphrased from memory):

    _I’ll never understand people who ask, ‘Would you stand by and let your sister be raped?’ A far more pertinent question would be, ‘Can you hope to reason with a mad dog?’

    Or mad tiger, perhaps.

    Milne and T.S. Eliot debated this question of the utility of war in print. Despite himself Milne had to concede Eliot’s POV the end, thanks to Hitler, that there are some things worse than war, that there are some things worth fighting for. You have to kill the mad dogs, before they kill you.

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    mike.firesmith  about 13 years ago

    It’s a comic strip people, not an invitation to argue.

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    cdward  about 13 years ago

    ^Mike, I don’t actually think this is arguing. I think it’s a rather intelligent discussion prompted by a rather insightful cartoon.

    As to whether wars are avoidable or necessary, it’s remarkably complicated. Even World War II was not inevitable, but its roots ran far deeper than just Adolph Hitler. Without World War I (a completely avoidable war), World War II would not have happened. Without the oppressive war reparations heaped on Germany after WWI, WWII most likely would not have happened, since those were one of the biggest burrs under the Germans’ collective saddle, making their lives utterly miserable. Of course, there are so many variables - like the depression - that it’s hard to say.

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    cdward  about 13 years ago

    Maybe a bigger question is, “How does invading another country that has not threatened you solve the world’s problems?”

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    cdward  about 13 years ago

    And of course, the wisest adult is the one who can admit that they don’t know.

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    Mythreesons  about 13 years ago

    Aren’t the Southern states about to celebrate some event concerning the Civil War? Wish I could give the details, but can’t remember what I read about it. South Carolina especially having “balls” in honor of the firing on Ft Sumpter??? Someone help me out!

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  22. Hobbes
    Hobbes Premium Member about 13 years ago

    Thanks for the excellent comments so far. I tried to put all of mine into a couple of humorous, snappy one-liners, for those who prefer that, but somehow it didn’t work today.

    Today’s strip illustrates why readers of Calvin and Hobbes on this site need to tolerate postings ranging from brief, light humor to longer, in-depth discussions on profound topics. It’s because Bill Watterson created the strip for the purpose of doing both himself. He wanted to entertain his readers and make them think deep thoughts at the same time.

    For those of you in the U.S., have a good Presidents Day today. Remember all who have sacrificed for us by serving in uniform, and remember our presidents, who have had to carry a unique burden making major decisions on how to deal with evil, when there are no good options to choose from.

    – Hobbes

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    woodwork  about 13 years ago

    Read Isiah 2:2-4…gonna happen, depend on it.

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    quanticobaby  about 13 years ago

    Thank you Bill Watterson and Hobbes. Deep subject with no quick answers. This from the Christmas carol “I Heard the Bells”:

    And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor does He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail With peace on earth, good will to men.”

    Except, of course, those last two lines are in the future…

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    florchi  about 13 years ago

    @cdward:

    Maybe a bigger question is, ‘How does invading another country that has not threatened you solve the world’s problems?’ ”

    Good comment (IMHO). Very interesting forum this morning. The deep thoughts and commentary seem appropriate for Presidents’ Day (U.S.).

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    griefofdawn  about 13 years ago

    War is a habit.

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    rshive  about 13 years ago

    You got that right Calvin.

    As the old Woody Guthrie song goes,

    “…. still I wonder why The worst of men must fight And the best of men must die.”

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    celeconecca  about 13 years ago

    good question, Calvin

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    wilorg  about 13 years ago

    I’ve always wondered why the leaders don’t fight it out amongst themselves rather than getting other people to do it for them.

    If Hitler wanted to take Poland, why didn’t he challenge the Polish leadership to a one on one (to the death, of course) - and see it that did it.

    It is easy to send other people to their death, it is hard to send yourself.

    Of course, that is an idealistic and naive solution, but then again, so is Calvin’s question. Either way, war is never right, ever. As we see in the Middle East today, people are only ruled so long as they continue to recognise and allow themselves to be ruled - when they stop, the ruler will fall. There will be martyrs along the way, but it invariably does happen. Hence, there is never reason to obey a madman, no matter how much (temporary) power he has. And no soldier need ever attack a foreign land, but rather protect his own and the people he serves.

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    woowie  about 13 years ago

    Interesting all this while I have audited a course in the Hebrew Tanakh (Old Testament)-Wars have been going on for millenia,now, and still no peace, no great kingdom. Even G-d changed his mind about people he had once directed the early Hebrews to kill i.e. the story of Jonah. Yep, makes ya wonder.

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    APPLESCRUFF  about 13 years ago

    Calvin needs to listen to “Imagine”, hauntingly beautiful & if only the world’s leaders would heed it’s message.

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    garabaldy  about 13 years ago

    It’s not meant to Calvin no more than me feeding a home person one meal will save him or her from starvation.

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    BobtheBandGuy  about 13 years ago

    This is like Bill Cosby’s question, “Why is there air?”

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    sowingseedsoflove  about 13 years ago

    Maybe Watterson want’s us to think hard about our lives today, who are we at war with in our own little worlds and why does it have to continue? What is the price of our thoughts, and who actually pays?

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    Pjbflyn  about 13 years ago

    This country is way too heavily invested in the marketing and making of war. We need a Department of PEACE. And just to be “fair and balanced” the budgetary expenditures should be identical. Maybe then the U.S. could have real defense, instead of the perpetual war mongering by and for the attendant profiteers that are killing not just our supposed enemies but ourselves.

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    cleokaya  about 13 years ago

    Calvin, I believe grownups act without really thinking through the ramifications of that act.

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    rogue53  about 13 years ago

    Spot on puppybreath, Mikefiresmith and furnituremaker

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    kab2rb  about 13 years ago

    Calvin you have asked a question as a child that even adults have asked.

    Okay commentators have you seen most recent news that is making future history. Citizens of Foreign countries that live there are protesting dictatorship by gathering in mass even to lose ones on life in protest to make a change in their own country by overtaking and protesting bad dictatorship.. They are overthrowing their own government and this is spreading to other foreign countries.

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    kab2rb  about 13 years ago

    Also I have to agree with Hobbes I don’t feel comments are arguing but expressing their point to Calvin’s profound question that adults have asked for years.

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    SuperSmurf  about 13 years ago

    Two word, “Population Control”. Have you ever wonder if we live forever and no one dies from war, diseases, old ages etc? It will be much worse that it is now if you ask me.

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    Dino-1  about 13 years ago

    “Make love not war!”

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    wilorg  about 13 years ago

    There are those who might argue (rightly) that religious differences are one of the primary causes of war. Perhaps doing away with all religion, starting with Christianity, might be one way to bring about peace (ducking and running from all the committed God-botherers in the audience) (in all defence of that statement, historically, there has been more war in the last 2000 years fought by Christians against either other Christian sects or or non-Christian peoples than from any other religion, and some of the atrocities carried out by those purported Christians (I seriously question their beliefs) have had repercussions that have lasted to this day, such as the spawning of radical Muslim Fundamentalism, or Jihadism, which was direct response to the atrocities carried out by by Christian Crusaders).

    In all seriousness, though, it behoves those of purported deep faith, whichever they follow, to examine their attitudes to those who do not share it and discover if they do not in fact harbour violence in their hearts as well due to that belief. True Christians would never pick up a gun and attack another person, no matter what - it is not what Christ taught, plain and simple. And despite the origins of Islam and the Jihads of the Prophet himself, the teachings today are clear about pacifism and tolerance, and those who do not follow that do a disservice to their faith. Buddhists, of course, are perfect, but then, what else would you expect ;-)?

    Tum-de-tum-tum… should I give the pot another stir?

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    cosman  about 13 years ago

    I agree that peace is better than war but if it was a choice between slavery and war, i’d take war every time. your beloved western thinkers said “give me liberty or give me death” right? prepare for war so you can have peace, otherwise the americans and bleeep anese would walk all over us.

    there is no need to apologize or rationalize to anyone what we do. we have no obligation to explain or make excuses. our government does what it does because it has to, and what foreigner has the right to argue against that? typical western attitude. can’t think outside the box and obsessed with “balanced”. always forgetting that balanced is not always neutral and objective.

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    hippogriff  about 13 years ago

    As Greens say, give disabled veterans whatever they need - and stop disabling more. The present House is doing the opposite.

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    LeslieAnne  about 13 years ago

    Wilorg Just one question… how can you get rid of all religions???? Your beliefs about who God is, or even the lack thereof, whatever they may be is a religion. I’m just saying… As for the war thing, I would love to not have war!!!!! But it’s not realistic! Even if we just let those people (IE Hitler, etc) do whatever they wanted, and take over the world, there would be war against ideas and beliefs. We are imperfect humans, in an imperfect world, that means there will always be war! How can we expect not to have war amongst ourselves when we war with our own thoughts constantly??

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    Gretchen's Mom  about 13 years ago

    Gee, dad … no quick, snappy, sarcastic come-back this time?!? Your son is a lot smarter than you thought, huh?!? Even as adults, I’m not sure that we can really come up with a completely right and satisfying answer to so profound a question.

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    stuart  about 13 years ago

    How do soldiers killing each other solve the worlds problems? In the same way that amputation stops the spread of gangrene. We are all brothers, and every death, even among the enemy, is a tragic loss. But when a group is causing even worse horror and death, they have to be stopped.

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    MatureCanadian  about 13 years ago

    Wow. Major discussion. Fabulous strip. Thanks Mr. Waterson.

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    bmonk  about 13 years ago

    The easy answer is, of course, soldiers killing one another doesn’t really solve the world’s problems. At best, the soldiers are protecting people who don’t deserve to die, or don’t deserve to die because of other people using violence.

    The Romans managed to get the “whole world” at peace (for brief periods, in the parts they dominated) by imposing the peace of the cemetery: kill everybody who wants to resist or object. Since then, it’s been harder.

    Wars are fought because both sides have something more valuable than peace–usually what they believe in, whether we call that religion, or liberty, or ideology (think Hitler vs. Stalin), or just some wealth they think they can gain or keep, like the hundreds of colonial wars fought over the centuries.

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    ratlum  about 13 years ago

    Coming back to the comic its possible Calvin if Dad knew all things all the time his and Moms decision to have a little boy may have been put on hold.

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    rentier  about 13 years ago

    The root is the evil and the sins! Humanity has gotten the Ten Commandments from God, to help to a better cohabitation in community and they should follow more this commandments!!

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    mediatorguy  about 13 years ago

    Consider the theory of predatory leadership - for hundreds of generations, the worst people have been able to get into positions of power and control over our lives. Alternative solutions to war are more effective and easily available (such as mediation) but the predators profit much more with war. To learn more, visit http://predatoryleadership.wordpress.com/

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  53. Hobbes
    Hobbes Premium Member about 13 years ago

    Hi Matt

    Good point. Some of those human leaders are giving us true predators a bad name.

    – Hobbes

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    jkhandy  about 13 years ago

    Funny and yet very sad that there are some who have posted here that just don’t get it, and may not get in this lifetime of theirs. Death begets death, violence begets violence, and the people who say they would rather fight then be a slave, you are a slave. Slave to money, which in turn makes you a slave to the elite. A drone to the queen bee, the corporation. To the people who claim that we don’t have to explain our actions as Americans to anyone, are the same people who will not be included in the next phase of human evolution. Non-accountability, action stemming only from the egoic mind, will end up eliminating the human race as we know it. So called ‘Humans’ are the only species on this planet that slaughter and maim their own, over 120 million in the 20th century alone and counting. If this fact is something you can truly be proud of, then so be it. This is what separates the evolved from the killers, and the parent who will send their child off to die in a battle over oil, from the parent who will actually do everything he/she can do to preserve their child’s life. Never allowing their child to become yet another helpless drone to the elite.

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  55. Hobbes
    Hobbes Premium Member about 13 years ago

    As we grow from children into adults, and then into older adults, we become more and more like Calvin’s dad, and the question of how best to deal with evil becomes harder and harder to answer.

    Organized religion has participated in a lot of evil over the centuries, but paradoxically, pure religion is the only way to truly confront evil and defeat it.

    Everything else is an imperfect attempt to contain evil and minimize the damage it can do, and in the case of war, by using means that contain some evil within themselves.

    – Hobbes

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    PhilBob  about 13 years ago

    How,…Indeed?! Man seems no closer to an alternative to war now, than he was centuries ago. The reason,…Power, Greed and Arrogance are more powerful urges than Negotiation, Compromise and Seeking Acceptable Alternatives. Mankind is doomed to continued warfare, Calvin. A sad and ugly fact of life, my boy.

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    gofinsc  about 13 years ago

    The Secession Ball was held in Charleston SC in January on the anniversary of the signing of the Ordinance of Secession. The re-enactment of the firing on Fort Sumter, more correctly on the ship The Southern Star which was trying to deliver supplies, was done by Citadel cadets in April. The Secession of the Southern States was no different from what happened in 1776, and was the thought process at the time. It cannot be evaluated in 21st Century thought processes. Perhaps the unity of the US would have gradually evolved otherwise without the terrible loss of life the Civil War involved, and the denigration of the South for many years thereafter. Certainly as more progressive thinking and technology developed, slavery would have been ended, even in the North where it was still in widespread effect during the war; The Emancipation Proclamation freed only the slaves in territory under control of the US Army, which was not in the North. It was a part of history, it cannot be changed, and should not be forgotten, if for no other reason than to keep it from happening again when some disgruntled fanatic group wants to “take back our government” using “2nd Amendment rights”. And both sides of my ancestry came to the US from England in the 1880’s and Germany in the 19-teen’s; my wife’s ancestors were poor sharecroppers who were virtually slaves themselves, but fought because they felt it was the right thing to do at the time, to preserve their homeland. It was a different time, with completely different thought processes, from which we have thankfully evolved today.

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    Rodney99  about 13 years ago

    The kid’s onto us- Grab him!!!

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    kid1at3heart  about 13 years ago

    I know a religion that will go to jail or let themselves be killed rather than kill others. Many died during Hitler’s reign of terror for this very reason. Search for it.

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    TheAuldWan  about 13 years ago

    Over 60+ long years ago I was one of 502 young men captured in the Philippines. I was one of only 8 in that group that came home alive. Since that time I have anquished over that question of “Why?” In God’s own good time we all shall have an answer. I surely don’t…only awful memories.

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    LeStats  about 13 years ago

    I was a soldier and I killed people, the only problem I solved was my own survival, it was me or them. My grandchildren will probably be soldiers, and maybe their grandchildren too, I hope not but such is the world we live in, mankind is a violent & greedy species, and after the evil I’ve seen in combat I’m sure there is no God.

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    Malsnipes  about 13 years ago

    to Wilrog:

    Wars are fought for many different reasons, religion being one but hardly the primary reason. Men have been killing each other over territory, resources, racial and cultural differences, taxes, religious persecution, and slavery to name a few for as long as there have been people walking the planet. There are many, many, reasons men have gone to war. To make the statement “there has been more war in the last 2000 years fought by Christians against either other Christian sects or non-Christian peoples than from any other religion” is a bit misleading and inaccurate. The Christian Crusades were waged by Roman Catholic Europe, particularly the Franks of France and the Holy Roman Empire (while they are considered “Christians” there is a fundamental difference between Catholics and Protestants. Protestant Christians do not accept the Popes roll or follow his guidance). The Crusades lasted about 200 years with many breaks or intervals of peace during that time. Many of the statements Wilrog makes are misleading. Either Wilrog is naïve and misinformed or harbors ill feelings toward Christianity. Modern religious wars or persecution for religious beliefs occur all over the world but typically evidence does not support that Christian backed militaries are moving against non Christian or other Christian organizations for religious reasons. Muslim nations have been trying to eradicate Israel for the last 60 plus years. That is the one thing Muslims agree on, the only good Jew is a dead Jew. Jihad has been declared by “Radical Muslims” against most of the Western world. Radical Muslim movements like the Muslim Brotherhood sprung up after 1919 (ask me why if you are interested) not because of the Crusades 900 years earlier. Something else for everyone to keep in mind, there are as many flavors of Islam as there are Christian denominations. Not all are bad, not all are radical and both have elements that the world could probably do without. The Quran - It does state Muslims should kill infidels, pure and simple, but please be careful and do not make the mistake of taking it out of context(Surah 9:5). I invite everyone to read the Quran, it’s a good read. Also consider (loosely translated) … whoever slays a soul, unless it be for murder or for mischief in the land, it is as though he slew entire mankind; and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept entire mankind alive; … (Quran 5:32) The Bible: Also addressing your statement that suggests Christians are taught to not kill under any circumstance. Thou shall not kill (read between the lines here), it is true it is a commandment. However it is referring to murder. The following examples are but a few of literally hundreds of reasons in the Bible to wage war or justify killing. EXAMPLE: God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes (Exodus 21:12, 15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11). So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but only murder. War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm to the innocent is by going to war.

    I’m not going to comment further on your post, just make the observation you come across as anti-Christian.

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    DCAJR  about 13 years ago

    Thanks to all the prior and future comments on this subject. I guess Mr. Watterson succeeded in making us all think. I’ll defer to the WOPR (Joshua) from War Games who said: “A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess.”

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    bmonk  about 13 years ago

    PhilBob said, about 3 options ago

    How…Indeed?! Man seems no closer to an alternative to war now, than he was centuries ago. The reason…Power, Greed and Arrogance are more powerful urges than Negotiation, Compromise and Seeking Acceptable Alternatives. Mankind is doomed to continued warfare, Calvin. A sad and ugly fact of life, my boy.

    So–one way to read this is that human nature has not changed from the beginning of recorded history. I believe Hobbes said, “Organized religion has participated in a lot of evil over the centuries, but paradoxically, pure religion is the only way to truly confront evil and defeat it.”

    The Christian faith is that the only way to fix the world is to fix the heart of the problem: the human heart, which is corrupted by sin. The only way to do that is to have a perfect, incorruptible person to come and help us. And such a person did come, we killed him, and he still helped us. Now comes our part–to cooperate with his work so that it may bear fruit in our heart and spread through us to the world. But–that would ask that I be willing to change first…

    “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried” – G. K. Chesterton

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    apGwilym  about 13 years ago

    Calvin for president.

    But, wars? Only on TV shows does the bully see the light when challenged by the little feller who stands up to him. If I want your marbles are you going to reason with me or give them to me? Because if you try to reason with me I’m going to knock your socks off and take your marbles anyway. Unless, of course, your big brother is bigger than my big brother.

    You got people, you got conflict. Keep trying, Calvin. And the rest of you. But carry big sticks.

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    rumplesnitz  about 13 years ago

    Well, either by prolonging the situation that we develop an economy sustained by bloodshed, or by one side killing enough of the other side rapidly enough to end the argument.

    Otherwise, there is no sense in it at all.

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    Francine Long  about 13 years ago

    furnituremaker…right on the spot! Yes, I know that verse and it is sure to be fulfilled. Even now we see millions streaming tho the house of Jehovah. We have reason to believe even more will take advantage of the opportunity open to them at this most advantageous time before, really, time runs out and as Jehovah says what he plans to do at Rev. 11:18.”……..and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”

    Kid1at3heard, I think I know this one too. The only “religious” group of people that I know of that absolutely will not take up arms against anyone no matter what nation or tribe they belong to even at the risk of prison or death are Jehovah’s Witnesses.

    Sure, there are individuals who have for their own reasons decided not to take up arms against anyone and I respect them and applaud them.

    But you can look it up, Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses as a body of believers will not engage in any kind of warfare. If your son or dughter, your husband or wife or you child has been killed or wounded in a war, know for a certainty that it was not at the hands of one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

    OK, now I suppose there will be a lot of upset people over this post. But nevertheless it is all true. Look it up.

    I was shocked out of my socks when I found our about them because I had always thought they were slightly mentally deranged. But they have a lot of good stuff to say and they follow up on their ideals and beliefs.

    That’s more than most other religions can say about their followers.

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  68. Roscoe with dice2small
    d4everman Premium Member about 13 years ago

    Good old Calvin. I’m a soldier right now….active duty for 20 years at this time…and I don’t know the answer either. Well, any other answer than humans are kind of stupid.

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  69. Missing large
    rogue53  about 13 years ago

    You beat me to it puppybreath. Most people don’t know, and many won’t accept that the end of this system will start with the end of all false religion. That’s what the Bible says, but many people will scoff. There’s nothing we can do but sound a warning, and if they choose to laugh, or ridicule, that is their choice, but we will have done as we should. People might say that if everyone acted as Jehovah’s Witnesses do, and refused to take up arms against any nation, we might be speaking a different language here in the USA. But if they really knew Bible prophecy, they would know that there was no need to get involved, the outcome was already known. Such information is free for the asking.

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  70. Grim sm blue eyes
    Ooops! Premium Member about 13 years ago

    Calvin asks his dad a seemingly simple question, with a simple answer. Soldiers killing each other doesn’t solve the world’s problems.

    He also comes to a conclusion that many would refuse to admit: Grown ups act like they know what they are doing.

    There are many situations in life where people are forced to act to the best of their knowledge, or make the best decision possible (at least that is what we hope for). War is only one of them.

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  71. Img 0554
    bevgreyjones  about 13 years ago

    Puppybreath wrote:

    Kid1at3heard, I think I know this one too. The only “religious” group of people that I know of that absolutely will not take up arms against anyone no matter what nation or tribe they belong to even at the risk of prison or death are Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

    Hundreds of years before the Witnesses were created, the Society of Friends (Quakers) and their offshoots, the Amish and Mennonites, were pacifists. I find it hard to believe you have never heard of Quakers, but trust me that Jehovah’s Witnesses are far from the only religious group that has been imprisoned for refusing to go to war.

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  72. Hog2
    Fogger_man  about 13 years ago

    Boy, Calvin… that was a “loaded” question!

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  73. Missing large
    Francine Long  about 13 years ago

    bevgrayjones, thank you for your intelligent and reasoned response. I appreciate that. And you are quite correct in your statement. Yes, the Amish, Quakers and Mennonites have a reputation for being pacifists.

    In fact I do know rather a lot about them. I had several neighbors that were either Mennonite or Amish when I lived in Phoenix Arizona some years ago. I am very well aware of them and their background and beliefs.

    Besides, I am an avid reader and have known about them since my school days by virtue of my studies.

    My point wasn’t that there aren’t other groups that refuse to fight. Certainly there are.

    My point was that Jehovah’s Witnesses have been horribly abused by many nations, they have been outlawed, hunted, killed, banished to remote areas, shot, and abused in every conceivable way. And that in countries all over the world. Hitler commited horrible atrocities against them. The Soviet Union tried to destroy them by every cruel means possible, The list drags on and on.

    Look up their history and you will see the reason they were called “rocks in a sea of mud” while suffering in Nazi concentration camps.

    The Quakers, Amish and Mennonites certainly have made a point of refusing to kill other human beings. But they have never been put to the test to the extent and in as many divers places or in as many numbers as have Jehovah’s Witnesses.

    Jehovah’s Witnesses have to be the most notable resisters of joining the killing fields of any religious group as determined by the criteria mentioned.

    But really, with the greatest respect for your opinions, please go the history books and research the reputation and the real agonies that the Witnesses endured over the entire globe.

    They have dedicated themselves to obeying Jehovah and Jesus Christ, to obeying the admonition to love not only each other but complete strangers far better and to a higher degree than any other group of any kind, whether religeous or secular in the entire world.

    But they haven’t been able to be destroyed and have grown in numbers throughout the world.

    If you have read through all of this, Congratulations. I know I became a bit wordy. Sorry about that.

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  74. Stewiebrian
    pouncingtiger  about 13 years ago

    Support the troops. BRING ALL OF THEM HOME!

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  75. Cathy aack
    lindz.coop Premium Member about 13 years ago

    Mythreesons – I believe it is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War in each area where the first battles were fought.

    Patrick JB Flynn – The one presidential candidate advocating for a Dept of Peace in the last election – Dennis Kucinich (sp?) never had a chance.

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  76. Missing large
    Francine Long  about 13 years ago

    pouncingtiger…right on. I can support that!

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    steve26  about 13 years ago

    An impossible question to answer - war is the bluntest tool we have to “solve” our problems and war succeeds when humans fail. Throughout history, many wars have been fought over “which peace loving god is the right peace loving god” or whether god looks like Charlton Heston or a cat in a toga. Some wars are fought for seemingly good intentions - WW2 was probably the last war that was absolutely necessary (although tell that to the thoudands who were persecuted in Bosnia, kosovo etc in the 90’s) - but negotiation must always be exhausted before we take up arms. The best way to avoid conflict - never attack first (just imagine if everyone did it). Soldiers give their lives so we may live in peace, some day, perhaps, they won’t need to. Finally, read Wilfred Owens poetry for a soldiers view of war, particularly “Dulce Et Decorum Est” - very moving. Excellent strip, as always and some great comments posted.

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  78. Cutiger
    rentier  about 13 years ago

    So many comments this day!

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    Poiled  about 13 years ago

    Dad thought about this for the next two weeks wow why soldiers kill each other.

    and the next and next and the next

    will he answer this question

    cause there definitely “evil afoot” mofo’s commit suicide then have our soldiers hearts hurt nah hell nah they commit suicide but with the utmost patience is a soldiers day. this in beliefs from all sides the correctness of aims war machines for family peace.

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  80. Wolf3
    COWBOY7  about 13 years ago

    Growing up and trying to understand can be rough, Calvin!

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  81. Me
    chamin  about 13 years ago

    Calvin, that’s called the “American Way!”

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  82. Grinn
    D339F2057  about 12 years ago

    truth is, the grown-up’s world is one big messed up place =/

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  83. Missing large
    Death2100  about 10 years ago

    to give us more problems!

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