"I'm not a pacifist. I was very much for the war against Hitler and I also supported the intervention in Korea, but in this war we went in there to steal Vietnam"
About this Quote
Benjamin Spock, a popular American pediatrician and anti-war activist, made this statement reflecting his stance on military actions and his views on the ethical validations of different wars. The quote encapsulates a nuanced perspective on conflict and foreign policy.
When Spock says, "I'm not a pacifist", he is drawing the line in between absolute pacifism-- opposition to all types of war-- and his own selective opposition, demonstrating that his resistance is not against war per se, but versus unjust wars. By specifying, "I was quite for the war against Hitler and I likewise supported the intervention in Korea", Spock signals his belief in wars that, in his view, had clear ethical imperatives or were battled on simply premises. The war versus Hitler during World War II is typically mentioned as a justified dispute due to the clear threat Hitler postured to worldwide security and human rights. Similarly, the Korean War can be seen as a stand against the spread of communism during the Cold War era, implying authenticity in its intentions, a minimum of in the context Spock understood them.
However, Spock's vital declaration, "in this war we entered there to steal Vietnam", shows his condemnation of the Vietnam War. By defining the action as "steal [ing] Vietnam", Spock recommends that the motives were imperialistic and doing not have ethical justification. This lines up with the views of numerous critics of the Vietnam War who argued it was more about applying American influence and control than responding to a direct danger or moral obligation.
In general, Spock's declaration is an articulate review that separates in between wars fought for ethical reasons and those viewed as acts of aggression or domination. His position stresses ethical duty in foreign intervention, highlighting the importance of identifying reasonable actions from those driven by ulterior intentions.
