Assignment 9-Eliot Smith

Is there a time for war?
If there is a time, is it morally right and just or is it the lesser of two evils?
If there isn't a time, why not?
Are there certain times when a country has a responsibility to go to war?
Are there any alternatives? Could they be more effective or less effective?

     Right now, I am at war with two different entities.  My dog has set out to replace the computer sitting on my lap with himself, and I am resisting.  He is barking at me, and I am constantly silencing him.  At the same time, the already chilly temperature continues to drop, forcing me to put my blogging on pause and go fetch a blanket.  The idea may sound ridiculous: I am currently engaged in war with a 18-pound jack-russell and Mother Nature, but it's true.  War can be defined as a prolonged state of conflict between two or more parties, something that is undoubtedly occuring between Buddy (my dog) , the weather, and me.
     Humans are innately warring creatures.  We enter a state of war every day, maybe even multiple times per hour.  From the underlying human competition of natural selection to the everyday soccer game, it is evident that war is programmed into our systems, and, at times, we even enjoy it.  Given this, and given the fact that a slightly annoying noise can provoke us to declare a constant state of struggle on its creator, it makes sense that human-specific warfare is a frequent, guaranteed occurence.
     War is not right.  It is not good, and, depending on who you ask, it might not even be bad.  Maybe it's just part of human genetics--a necessity, such as eating or drinking.  When just "talking it out" doesn't satisfy each party's needs, war is arguably needed.  Whoever comes out on top experiences a sense of honor, and the war's champions even receive awards.  The concept has been incorporated into our society, and we have yet to grow out of it.