War Is a Lie (Book Excerpt) (Excerpt‪)‬

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WAR IS A LIE is the 2010 self-published book by Humanist contributor David Swanson, in which he attempts a comprehensive refutation of all the rationales offered for any and all wars. "War is not a mysterious part of a divine plan nor is it an unavoidable manifestation of human nature," says the author. "It's the reason you have financial worries. It is very likely going to destroy our economy if it doesn't destroy our environment first, although it may more quickly destroy our representative government--but possibly not before it kills us all through blowback or weapons proliferation." The book challenges readers to accept their own culpability in perpetuating the catastrophic human creation that is war. While we would never imagine touting "good slavery" or "just rape" Americans especially seem willing to accept the idea of necessary wars, thereby supporting a war machine that Swanson says takes over 50 cents of every dollar of income tax. This must end, he concludes. "It's war or humanity. The world isn't big enough for both." The following excerpt from Chapter 4, titled "Wars Are Not Avoidable," is published with permission of the author.