Watterson has twice perfectly distilled war’s futility down to 8 cartoon panels. And to think I spent four years studying political science when I could of just read C&H.
I used to wrote a quote of the week under the title of every Sunday strip. This one from a famous president: “A nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought.” take note of they do in the last three panels.
It’s a game played by children, pretending to be adults, whose leaders play the “game” for real, because they have never become adults, and they continue to act like children.
Here is Johnny Hart’s contribution on this subject, from The Wizard of Id (3 years before Johnny’s death):
I remember a one panel cartoon where this little man in combat gear is standing by himself, there’s a mushroom cloud behind him, he says “I think, I won.”
Zero sum. I once visited a friend at SUNY-Stoneybrook or whatever. We dropped some acid and went to the movies. In our delusional states, we thought wee were watching Dr. Strangelove, and we were laughing our butts off in the days before ROTFLMAO. Turned out it was Failsafe. People glared at us in a threatening fashion, and we left surreptitiously.
Unfortunately, wars are a quick and easy way to create jobs as well as divert national attention to one issue when there are more complex ones to handle. Thank goodness for people like Gorbechev, who had already pretty much dismantled the “communist” system before Mr. Reagan took the credit for it. He realized that his country wouldn’t benefit from continuing the cold war, and that there were better approaches to creating a solid economy . . . which he implemented, thank goodness. Our country has indeed fallen into this trap, such as starting a war with Iraq to punish Al Quaida, who were most likely safely in Pakistan or Afganistan at the time. That’s the reason for these wars we get into lately. No longer is there a military fighting traditional wars, though we’re trying, but people have figured out the only way to win a war against us is to attack us at the terrorist level. War isn’t what it used to be. One has to hope it never is again.
@ Pelicanator: totally agreed. My comment suffered from a case of syntax (“has twice perfectly distilled war’s futility”) that prevented me from making my point. BW makes the point in the lead panels as well. Back to writing 101 for me…mea culpa.
It’s easy to play “PEACE” until your “enemy” reveals that he is really playing “WAR” and was just luring you into a false sense of security so he can destroy you. You go quietly into that dark night and your enemy enjoys several peaceful years eating food from your garden, having children with your wife, and teaching them to revere deities that do not exist (but appear to have blessed his ventures – until the last judgement).
rentier over 13 years ago
Realy stupid game! Nothing has changed in 20 years!
keltii over 13 years ago
its never equal in “war and peace” there is never any “give” or “take” for that matter.
margueritem over 13 years ago
Extemely stupid…
GROG Premium Member over 13 years ago
What about our policemen and firemen, Calvin?
Good Morning, Marg, Mike & ♠Lonewolf♠
Yochanan204 over 13 years ago
M.A.D.
MontanaLady over 13 years ago
Absolutely NOTHING!!!
adubman over 13 years ago
Watterson has twice perfectly distilled war’s futility down to 8 cartoon panels. And to think I spent four years studying political science when I could of just read C&H.
Hrrrruuuummppppfffff!
zero over 13 years ago
Si! MAD ;-) … Mutually Assured Dumbasses*
…and I don’t mean C & H❦whims over 13 years ago
Well, sure, if you stand right next to each other. Stay at the range limit of the guns, maybe take some cover, and you have a decent game.
rshive over 13 years ago
That doesn’t begin to say it, guys!
yuvrajhanspal over 13 years ago
I remember @Hobbes commenting and we had a pretty nice read about this strip, when it last came.. I think it was about a couple of months back or so…
tirnaaisling over 13 years ago
Does that dart have Velcro on it?
steve26 over 13 years ago
A really stupid game…and yet so many people seem to want to play it. Calvin & Hobbes at it’s best here.
Lyons Group, Inc. over 13 years ago
I used to wrote a quote of the week under the title of every Sunday strip. This one from a famous president: “A nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought.” take note of they do in the last three panels.
Phapada over 13 years ago
not things ..this Game C&H… I still LoVe You
Nebulous Premium Member over 13 years ago
Well, it’s good for advancing technology and reducing the surplus population, but other than that…
GalleyOar over 13 years ago
War is hell boys.
rentier over 13 years ago
I love you too, boys, let it be!
Hobbes Premium Member over 13 years ago
It’s a game played by children, pretending to be adults, whose leaders play the “game” for real, because they have never become adults, and they continue to act like children.
Here is Johnny Hart’s contribution on this subject, from The Wizard of Id (3 years before Johnny’s death):
The Wizard of Id (2004)
Dkram over 13 years ago
I remember a one panel cartoon where this little man in combat gear is standing by himself, there’s a mushroom cloud behind him, he says “I think, I won.”
Nope.\\//_
wicky over 13 years ago
How about cops and terrorists?
11256 over 13 years ago
well that game was over fast
tripwire45 over 13 years ago
Political commentary so early on Sunday morning? I was hoping for a few laughs instead.
Destiny23 over 13 years ago
Calvin was paying attention during Indoctrination Class I see!
celeconecca over 13 years ago
yes, yes it is
keltii over 13 years ago
whats so “civil” about war anyways?
peachyanddanny over 13 years ago
Zero sum. I once visited a friend at SUNY-Stoneybrook or whatever. We dropped some acid and went to the movies. In our delusional states, we thought wee were watching Dr. Strangelove, and we were laughing our butts off in the days before ROTFLMAO. Turned out it was Failsafe. People glared at us in a threatening fashion, and we left surreptitiously.
dglmel over 13 years ago
We should all read the comics and ignore the rest of the news, they make more sense.
cleokaya over 13 years ago
“To Few Role Models.” Ain’t that the truth.
jonathan.james over 13 years ago
Unfortunately, wars are a quick and easy way to create jobs as well as divert national attention to one issue when there are more complex ones to handle. Thank goodness for people like Gorbechev, who had already pretty much dismantled the “communist” system before Mr. Reagan took the credit for it. He realized that his country wouldn’t benefit from continuing the cold war, and that there were better approaches to creating a solid economy . . . which he implemented, thank goodness. Our country has indeed fallen into this trap, such as starting a war with Iraq to punish Al Quaida, who were most likely safely in Pakistan or Afganistan at the time. That’s the reason for these wars we get into lately. No longer is there a military fighting traditional wars, though we’re trying, but people have figured out the only way to win a war against us is to attack us at the terrorist level. War isn’t what it used to be. One has to hope it never is again.
Number Three over 13 years ago
LOL, Not really Calvin.
It’s fun to pretend!
xxx
dpbrown over 13 years ago
wird game
starmanpete over 13 years ago
If we took all those who think war isn’t stupid and put them in an enclosure to fight it out, we might eventually clean up the gene-pool.
ratlum over 13 years ago
Just for fun lets play peace ,harder to play but there is more left to enjoy.
APPLESCRUFF over 13 years ago
WAR IS OVER (IF YOU WANT IThttp://youtu.be/wcH57FuFHaoALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!
Tineli over 13 years ago
That’s really true!
rcerinys701 over 13 years ago
To Quote WOPR from War Games. “Very interesting game, Doctor, The only way to win is not to play.”
Gretchen's Mom over 13 years ago
Detente!
rentier over 13 years ago
They can play Calvin ball instead of!
snowman92 over 13 years ago
Wow, two dead men already?:) :()
jkhandy over 13 years ago
What’s on the tree in one panel, but not the others??
Camas<3Hobbes over 13 years ago
So who won?
William Reynolds over 13 years ago
It’s easier to destroy than build.
dsom8 over 13 years ago
It seems like we did “give peace a chance.” From 11/9/89 to 9/11/01. War is a game you only win if no one plays.
adubman over 13 years ago
@ Pelicanator: totally agreed. My comment suffered from a case of syntax (“has twice perfectly distilled war’s futility”) that prevented me from making my point. BW makes the point in the lead panels as well. Back to writing 101 for me…mea culpa.
@ Richard S. Russell: great call!
lindz.coop Premium Member over 13 years ago
And only a billion bucks a month down the drain. Much better than any “socialist” ideas of fixing anything or helping anyone in this country.
Gocomo2011 over 13 years ago
Yeah Calvin..war only kills people…I wish the world leaders understand this too…that its a stupid game…
Piksea Premium Member over 13 years ago
This is my absolute favorite Calvin and Hobbes strip. Bill Watterson is a genius!!!
dflak over 13 years ago
Nobody wins a war – one side just manages to lose it to a lesser extent.
blackman2732 over 13 years ago
Yes, Calvin. Yes it is.
odello over 13 years ago
this is the best game out there
Captain_Commando over 13 years ago
War: tragic, but inevitable.
snowman92 over 13 years ago
lame game :)
0ldreamer over 13 years ago
It’s easy to play “PEACE” until your “enemy” reveals that he is really playing “WAR” and was just luring you into a false sense of security so he can destroy you. You go quietly into that dark night and your enemy enjoys several peaceful years eating food from your garden, having children with your wife, and teaching them to revere deities that do not exist (but appear to have blessed his ventures – until the last judgement).
hihigirl over 13 years ago
Maybe Susie can play…
sunchaunzo over 10 years ago
Out of the mouths of babes.