Henry Ford (1863 – 1947), Founder of the Ford Motor Company and father of modern assembly lines used in mass production, made many interesting statements in his insightful, business-savvy 1922 Autobiography, "My Life and Work".
In chapter 17, he addresses the first World War, what war is all about and who really benefits from war. His words are quite interesting on this topic and still very relevant in 2007, especially in light of the current war in Iraq. Many would not even draw a parallel between World War I and the current war in Iraq, however, the undeniable common denominator is the heavy loss of lives in both of these wars (and the loss of lives in Iraq is still ongoing!).
He states about World War I:
"Nobody got an advantage, honourable or dishonourable, out of that war. I had hoped, finally, when the United States entered the war, that it might be a war to end wars, but now I know that wars do not end wars..."
One has to ask, is the current war in Iraq going to be a war to end wars? Absolutely not.
Below he expresses what 'patriotism' really means. You can very well be against war and still be patriotic:
"When our country entered the war, it became the duty of every citizen to do his utmost toward seeing through to the end that which we had undertaken. I believe that it is the duty of the man who opposes war to oppose going to war up until the time of its actual declaration."
Notice he states "...up until the time of its actual declaration." Even if the reasons for going to war in the first place are wrong (think 'WMD'), your patriotism for your country should not be given up or abandoned. When war begins, you should stand behind your country.
Notice also that Ford states "I believe that it is the duty of the man who opposes war to oppose going to war...". Where was 'war-activist' Cindy Sheehan between 9/11 and the start of the war in Iraq in 2003? If she is so 'anti-war', then she should have stood up tall after 9/11 and declare that President Bush and the United States should not invade or strike any country to create another war. She did no such thing or made no bold statement until 2005 when she decided to camp outside President Bush's Texas Ranch - more than a year after the tragic death of her son in the line of duty in Iraq in early 2004. If she became actively 'anti-war' only after the war started (and loss of her son), then it simply means she was 'for' the war in the beginning - despite her claims otherwise. Actions will always (and forever) speak louder than words.
Below Ford discusses why war never resolves issues:
"My opposition to war is not based upon pacifist or non-resistant principles. It may be that the present state of civilization is such that certain international questions cannot be discussed; it may be that they have to be fought out. But the fighting never settles the question. It only gets the participants around to a frame of mind where they will agree to discuss what they were fighting about."
Below he shows how much he contributed and supported the United States in its war effort, once the war started:
In chapter 17, he addresses the first World War, what war is all about and who really benefits from war. His words are quite interesting on this topic and still very relevant in 2007, especially in light of the current war in Iraq. Many would not even draw a parallel between World War I and the current war in Iraq, however, the undeniable common denominator is the heavy loss of lives in both of these wars (and the loss of lives in Iraq is still ongoing!).
He states about World War I:
"Nobody got an advantage, honourable or dishonourable, out of that war. I had hoped, finally, when the United States entered the war, that it might be a war to end wars, but now I know that wars do not end wars..."
One has to ask, is the current war in Iraq going to be a war to end wars? Absolutely not.
Below he expresses what 'patriotism' really means. You can very well be against war and still be patriotic:
"When our country entered the war, it became the duty of every citizen to do his utmost toward seeing through to the end that which we had undertaken. I believe that it is the duty of the man who opposes war to oppose going to war up until the time of its actual declaration."
Notice he states "...up until the time of its actual declaration." Even if the reasons for going to war in the first place are wrong (think 'WMD'), your patriotism for your country should not be given up or abandoned. When war begins, you should stand behind your country.
Notice also that Ford states "I believe that it is the duty of the man who opposes war to oppose going to war...". Where was 'war-activist' Cindy Sheehan between 9/11 and the start of the war in Iraq in 2003? If she is so 'anti-war', then she should have stood up tall after 9/11 and declare that President Bush and the United States should not invade or strike any country to create another war. She did no such thing or made no bold statement until 2005 when she decided to camp outside President Bush's Texas Ranch - more than a year after the tragic death of her son in the line of duty in Iraq in early 2004. If she became actively 'anti-war' only after the war started (and loss of her son), then it simply means she was 'for' the war in the beginning - despite her claims otherwise. Actions will always (and forever) speak louder than words.
Below Ford discusses why war never resolves issues:
"My opposition to war is not based upon pacifist or non-resistant principles. It may be that the present state of civilization is such that certain international questions cannot be discussed; it may be that they have to be fought out. But the fighting never settles the question. It only gets the participants around to a frame of mind where they will agree to discuss what they were fighting about."
Below he shows how much he contributed and supported the United States in its war effort, once the war started:
"Once we were in the war, every facility of the Ford industries was put at the disposal of the Government. We had, up to the time of the declaration of war, absolutely refused to take war orders from the foreign belligerents. From April, 1917, until November, 1918, our factory worked practically exclusively for the Government."
Henry Ford's Autobiography, "My Life and Work" is a brilliant book for anyone involved in any type of business today as it highlights the real principles of creating and managing a business and what all business should be about - not 'profit', but rather 'service'. You can pick up a copy of "My Life and Work" here.
