Walking the high ground, becoming the pacifist is for those who embrace non-worldly gains. If you are aware of your continuity regardless of your physical demise, than you are willing to risk your physical destruction at the expense of a spiritual gain.

However, for those who have no such faith in the existence of anything other than the physical world and their physical life, the thought is abhorrent.

In terms of global affairs, the true pacifist takes on a different stance with a broader perspective. If, indeed, everyone were conscientious objectors, the disarming would occur simultaneously all over the world.

In a world where the conscientious objector types congregate in a few advanced nations, while many murderous savages teem and repopulate other lands, the objector has a heck of a test.

Although not desirous of dying, they wish to uphold their principles. But at the same time they do not wish to sacrifice others. Their own beliefs contradict It creates a dichotomy of individual belief versus collective responsibility.

In my own case, I realize sustaining armies and police forces are a necessary evil, and when used intelligently to permit the growth of "enlightened" societies they cease to be evil and become a constructive element in global development.

There will come a day when the swords can be pounded into plowshares. Many swords already have been. If the USA and western civilization prevail in reforming some of the more backward, violent cultures then perhaps all the swords will be destroyed.