Since we orginally came from ocean bacteria then evolved to monkeys then evolved to humans that are hell bent on self destruction to prove individual superiority, what else did you expect!
Defender of American Liberty and Godless Communist Oppressor are getting along rather well for the past few decades. Now that might be called playing Peace. Good job everybody.
And now – you heroes of the suction cup dart-war – open a can of tomato-soup and create fake blood stains to make a picture for the War-hall of shame-fame
I remember hating playing war. I’d be outside playing with my friends and my brother would come by & say, “Who wants to play war?” The kids all went off with him, and I’d just go do something else by myself.
This strip is running the day after Juneteenth. The new national holiday celebrating the date when the United States was able to officially end slavery . But only after a long and bloody war.
“It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow fond of it.” Robert E. Lee.
With push-button weaponry, “smart” bombs and drones, has war lost it’s terror?
Don’t get me wrong. If I have to fight a war, I want things like smart bombs that can “neutralize” a target with minimum “collateral damage.” Which is the polite way of saying, we’re not going to kill more people than we have to.
I did the math on the Afghanistan war. At the rate we were losing soldiers, it would take 73 YEARS to accumulate the casualties that the British sustained in the first DAY of the Battle of the Somme in World War I.
Every war is two conflicts. There is the military conflict in which the United States has traditionally done well and the political conflict in which our results have not always been good.
If you combine the wisdom of Sun Tzu in the Art of War, you will realize: Be slow to start a war and be quick to finish it.
Politicians start was and expect soldiers to finish them.
I agree with Calvin – it’s stupid. I disagree with Calvin – it’s not a game.
Reminds me of Dr. Seuss’ Butter Battle Book, about nuclear proliferation, which ends with each side holding a weapon that will annihilate the other side, but each afraid to drop it in case the other one does the same thing.
But we are a warlike species. Blame it on evolution or blame it on the Serpent of Eden. We are competitive, and will compete to the death if necessary.
You know, there have been a couple of attempts to market children’s games where instead of having a number of players compete to win, the players had to cooperate to achieve a common goal.
This is one of Watterson’s best all time Sunday strips, even if contains some elements that are now very dated. The doctrine of Mutually Assisted Destruction itself seems almost innocent today.
Zor and Zam, by The Monkees:Two little kings playing a game.They gave a war and nobody came.https://www.bing.com/search?q=zor+and+zam+lyrics&cvid=c5d931f054d54ba9a5e4cb6de3b503d3&aqs=edge.1.69i57j0l5.4001j0j1&pglt=43&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=U531
BE THIS GUY almost 3 years ago
The real thing is far worse.
Sugar Bombs 95 almost 3 years ago
In the brain and in the heart. The two places you want to be shot in LEAST.
parforden almost 3 years ago
Yeah. It is a stupid game.
dadthedawg almost 3 years ago
You could play politics…..but that’s stupid, too.
codycab almost 3 years ago
When Calvin realizes the stupidity of one of his made up games.
sirbadger almost 3 years ago
At least this game ended unlike some wars I can think of.
jimchronister2016 almost 3 years ago
Since we orginally came from ocean bacteria then evolved to monkeys then evolved to humans that are hell bent on self destruction to prove individual superiority, what else did you expect!
alaskajohn1 almost 3 years ago
MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction
GreasyOldTam almost 3 years ago
Too bad adults have never figured that out.
dcdete. almost 3 years ago
There’s a flaw there. Isn’t the purpose of a hard helmet so that you don’t get killed by a dart? Calvin isn’t dead there.
Scorpio Premium Member almost 3 years ago
War is stupid and needs to end, much like the military-industrial complex that thrives on it
PaulAbbott2 almost 3 years ago
Not just one of the greatest C&H strips, one of the truly great comic strips. The first two panels are awesome, n and of themselves.
in.amongst almost 3 years ago
Defender of American Liberty and Godless Communist Oppressor are getting along rather well for the past few decades. Now that might be called playing Peace. Good job everybody.
in-dubio-pro-rainbow almost 3 years ago
And now – you heroes of the suction cup dart-war – open a can of tomato-soup and create fake blood stains to make a picture for the War-hall of shame-fame
Jabroniville Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Probably the closest thing to a political strip C&H ever got. Of course when I first read it I was way too young to get it.
Qiset almost 3 years ago
MAD in action.
jhargreaves almost 3 years ago
The only winning move is not to play.
crabbyred almost 3 years ago
War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!
Bilan almost 3 years ago
There are plenty of role models for Peace. But they’re not sensationalistic enough to be on the news.
rossevrymn almost 3 years ago
should post this on Veterans Day
dwdl21 almost 3 years ago
Yes Calvin, yes it is.
lmuller7 almost 3 years ago
AMEN !
Doug Taylor Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Imagine
Wren Fahel almost 3 years ago
I remember hating playing war. I’d be outside playing with my friends and my brother would come by & say, “Who wants to play war?” The kids all went off with him, and I’d just go do something else by myself.
Jimvideo almost 3 years ago
Seems like a funny strip…unless you live in Hong Kong, China, Russia, or North Korea.
colddonkey almost 3 years ago
Life of politics in 2021.
awcoffman almost 3 years ago
Wow! Just Wow! Most awesome strip ever.
flemmingo almost 3 years ago
War is Stupid too! Not a game.
Watchdog almost 3 years ago
Mutually assured destruction
carlzr almost 3 years ago
This strip is running the day after Juneteenth. The new national holiday celebrating the date when the United States was able to officially end slavery . But only after a long and bloody war.
yoshadoo (I do stuff you don't care about) almost 3 years ago
Ironic the a stuffed tiger is ‘the loathsome godless communist oppressor’
dflak almost 3 years ago
“It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow fond of it.” Robert E. Lee.
With push-button weaponry, “smart” bombs and drones, has war lost it’s terror?
Don’t get me wrong. If I have to fight a war, I want things like smart bombs that can “neutralize” a target with minimum “collateral damage.” Which is the polite way of saying, we’re not going to kill more people than we have to.
I did the math on the Afghanistan war. At the rate we were losing soldiers, it would take 73 YEARS to accumulate the casualties that the British sustained in the first DAY of the Battle of the Somme in World War I.
Every war is two conflicts. There is the military conflict in which the United States has traditionally done well and the political conflict in which our results have not always been good.
If you combine the wisdom of Sun Tzu in the Art of War, you will realize: Be slow to start a war and be quick to finish it.
Politicians start was and expect soldiers to finish them.
I agree with Calvin – it’s stupid. I disagree with Calvin – it’s not a game.
kathleenhicks62 almost 3 years ago
Even Calvin figures it out- – - What’s with the world leaders?
MichaelHelwig almost 3 years ago
War Games
genghis.shaman almost 3 years ago
Reminds me of Dr. Seuss’ Butter Battle Book, about nuclear proliferation, which ends with each side holding a weapon that will annihilate the other side, but each afraid to drop it in case the other one does the same thing.
marshalljpeters Premium Member almost 3 years ago
How exactly does a suction cup dart stick to Hobbes’s furry chest?
Jogger2 almost 3 years ago
“A strange game. The only winning move is to not play.” W.O.P.R. system in War Games.
PuppyPapa almost 3 years ago
But we are a warlike species. Blame it on evolution or blame it on the Serpent of Eden. We are competitive, and will compete to the death if necessary.
You know, there have been a couple of attempts to market children’s games where instead of having a number of players compete to win, the players had to cooperate to achieve a common goal.
Can you name one?
Dobby53 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
We sure seem to love War over Peace, Dystopias over Utopias.
Otis Rufus Driftwood almost 3 years ago
This is one of Watterson’s best all time Sunday strips, even if contains some elements that are now very dated. The doctrine of Mutually Assisted Destruction itself seems almost innocent today.
COL Crash almost 3 years ago
Yep! You may be able to defeat your Enemy. But in the end nobody really Wins.
WCraft Premium Member almost 3 years ago
And yet it’s being played out in congress on a daily basis.
Steverino Premium Member almost 3 years ago
War doesn’t determine wno’s right, only who’s left.
GreggW Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Watterson was a failed editorial cartoonist, but this is a pretty good editorial. Too bad the US establishment hasn’t heeded the message.
GumbyDammit223 almost 3 years ago
Out of the mouths of babes
moondog42 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
“The only winning move is not to play”
CAT EMPIRE LEADER almost 3 years ago
Who Won?
Plods with ...™ almost 3 years ago
Strange game. The only winning move is not to play.
How about a nice game of chess?"
- W.O.P.R.
rstove428 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Wow! Just “Wow!”
Timothy Madigan Premium Member almost 3 years ago
I still remember arriving at my (infantry) unit in the fall of 1986 and this comic was taped next to the C.Q. desk.
kab2rb almost 3 years ago
Lived that game through how many Presidents?
onespiceybbw almost 3 years ago
Shades of “Wargames”.
pamela welch Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Indeed it is Calvin
Sailor46 USN 65-95 almost 3 years ago
MAD!
STACEY MARSHALL Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Zor and Zam, by The Monkees:Two little kings playing a game.They gave a war and nobody came.https://www.bing.com/search?q=zor+and+zam+lyrics&cvid=c5d931f054d54ba9a5e4cb6de3b503d3&aqs=edge.1.69i57j0l5.4001j0j1&pglt=43&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=U531
johnstep almost 3 years ago
MAD-Mutually Assured Destruction
Bill The Nuke almost 3 years ago
Pretty much the ending of War Games.
viking-riverrat almost 3 years ago
This is brilliant. Thank you. ex-12C10
lindz.coop Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Kind of…
currysteph Premium Member almost 3 years ago
thats cause you’re playing it wrong….your not suppose to die for your country the other guys suppose to die for his
liberalnlovinit almost 3 years ago
MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction.
minute_of_decade almost 3 years ago
When was this strip originaly published ?