SZ-
My rambling isn't a quote from one source. just the result of a lot of reading. But you can find info on the Just War Doctrine at
www.breakpoint.com. Just to clarify for our liberal friends, I use to be very liberal, a pot smoking, screw the establishment, look at the oppression of the U.S. gov't type.
But a friend lead me to realize I was only hearing one side of the argument. The media, pop culture, universities certainly were only giving the leftist point of view. Well obviously with research I have done a complete 180. I fully acknowledge the wrongs of the U.S. but if you place them into a true historicaly accurate world view then I don't see how one can side with the left.
For instance I used to be so ashamed and repulsed by our taking the land from native Americans. But I had never stopped to consider native American tribes had warred among each other for centuries, murdering, raping, stealing. Why was I so idignant when people with white skin and a different culture did the same?
The same with slavery. Africans had been doing it for centuries, and it still continues in the Sudan, but when white Americans did it I was sickened, yet excused it with Africans.
The point is I'm not justifying it by any means, but it changes your perspective of finger pointing at America to looking at all of mankind having a very sinful and treacherous history. The fact that we have in large measure overcome many of these wrongs is something to be proud of. The fact that people of all types have suceeded here due to freedom and responsiblility and not social engineering is also something to be proud of.