Several Reasons Not to Go to War

by Douglas Messerli (Editor)

Beginning in late 2002 and early 2003, Douglas Messerli wrote to major figures in the arts, sciences, business, and politics asking them to write brief statements on "why not to go to war." Obviously, the context was the impending war between the United States and Iraq, but Messerli’s questions were pointed toward not just the possible war, but any "My interest in the subject has no specific political agenda behind it; I simply feel that it might be important for our age to compile such responses and pass them on to our own and other generations. We all know that war is sometimes necessary and that it occurs with regular frequency throughout the world; Machiavelli even argued that a prince ‘must have no other object and no other thought than war, its methods and conduct.’ But I do also believe that most men and women of reason detest war. Perhaps by sharing those reasons, we can give generations new hope that they may live in peaceful times."

130 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Douglas Messerli (born May 30, 1947) is an American writer, professor, and publisher based in Los Angeles, California. In 1976, he started Sun & Moon, a magazine of art and literature, which became Sun & Moon press, and later Green Integer press. He has taught at Temple University in Philadelphia, and Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.