There's this romantic idea that's built up around war. But the pragmatic view is there are tons of people of my generation who have lost their lives, lost their marriages, or lost their health as a consequence of being sent to wars which could have been avoided.
Interpretation
War is often idealized, but the reality results in devastating personal losses.
This quote by Pete Buttigieg critiques the romanticized perception of war by highlighting the severe consequences that many individuals face, including loss of life, relationships, and health. It suggests that the glorification of war ignores the tangible tragedies inflicted on countless lives, emphasizing the need for a pragmatic approach to conflict that prioritizes human well-being over heroic narratives.
In practice
During a speech about the consequences of military interventions.
'Freedom' means a lot to conservatives, but they have such a narrow sense of what it means. They think a lot about freedom from - freedom from government, freedom from regulation - and precious little about freedom to. Freedom to is absolutely something that has to be safeguarded by good government, just as it could be impaired by bad government.
We need to intentionally invest in health, in home ownership, in entrepreneurship, in access to democracy, in economic empowerment. If we don't do these things, we shouldn't be surprised that racial inequality persists because inequalities compound.
My understanding of my faith is that - through a Christian framework - part of what we are called to do is to lay down our own self-interests, after the model of divinity that comes into this world in the form of Christ and lays down his life. And in order to do that, you have to care about something or someone more than yourself.
Physically robust infrastructure is not enough if it fails to foster a healthy community; ultimately, all infrastructure is social.
So much of politics is about people's relationships with themselves. You do better if you make people feel secure in who they are.
Experiences with friends or family members coming out have helped millions of Americans to see past stereotypes and better understand what being gay is - and is not.
Everything is good as it comes from the hands of the Maker of the world, but degenerates once it gets into the hands of man
Disbelief is more resistant than faith because it is sustained by the senses.
Vanity dies hard; in some obstinate cases it outlives the man.
We gain internal freedom through external actions.
Man is always inclined to regard the small circle in which he lives as the center of the world and to make his particular, private life the standard of the universe and to make his particular, private life the standard of the universe. But he must give up this vain pretense, this petty provincial way of thinking and judging.
I have had the good fortune through my God that I should never abandon his people whom I have acquired in the extremities of the earth.
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