Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for February 15, 2021

Maybe one of Calvin’s grandfathers can better answer that question.

“Mind your business! That’s how.”

The whole world is all about “fake it till you make it” afterall.

I’ll give you the answer, (ZZZZZZZZ….)

It’s ye’ old “might makes right”.

Hey, wait a minute. Where is MY Oscar for best acting?!?

And sometimes that conclusion is right, Calvin!

It’s only right when we and our allies do it…

Soldiers killing each other are one of the world’s problems. Calvin might as well have asked how people robbing banks solve the world’s problems. Of course there is no reply, one don’t look to problems as solutions.

Tricky word Watterson.

It doesn’t.

Mouths of babes!

Taken to it’s logical conclusion, No soldiers? No problem!

If only people weren’t human, perhaps we wouldn’t.

Good question Calvin. Mankind doesn’t have an answer for you, unfortunately. :(

Go away kid ya bother me , ( It does not solve anything, only creates more problems)

Simplistic question to a complex problem.

Nobody ever won a war by dying for his country. You win a war by making the other guy die for his country.

Not making light of this but, “War, huh, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!”

His father’s speechlessness tells it all.

That’s mostly been my experience

This is where dad can explain that all the killing DOESN’T help, and it’s mostly in service of who gets petroleum.

Calvin actually makes a good point for a change!

It’s not for solving the world’s problems. It’s just to get you what you want.

One wonders how……a 6-year old comes up with a question that has stumped many a ‘great thinker’ for low these many, many years and expects his Dad to answer what they haven’t been able to ????

Still relevant today :/

Sometimes it’s just better to remain silent.

They do not always know it!!

Uh-oh, the kid’s on to us! :/

One of the reasons is a majority of humans covet power and riches. And a majority of rich and powerful people covet even more power and more riches.

Easy answer. Soldiers killing each other helps our economy. Next question.

One of the truly great C&H strips. And it goes well with this one:

https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1986/03/23

War is an acronym for “We Are Right.” Common usage has dropped the caps.

Calvin is absolutely right. Sometimes the best actor wins and sometime the worst actor wins. It depends on what the drama is about.

“Grown ups just act like they know what they’re doing.”

Calvin’s got it right on both counts.

It’s not whose right, it’s whose left.

It doesn’t, but unfortunately it sometimes has to happen because the other side won’t listen to reason and started the war

“As my father said to me when he died in my arms, ‘I don’t understand any of it. I never did.’ Turn the lights out when you leave.” From The Boys in the Band by Matt Crowley (1968).

They don’t solve the world’s problems, Calvin. Wars are started by a bunch of Moes who see the world as a pissing contest.

You just keep killing until the other guy has had enough of losing, realizes his goal is far too expensive and he goes home. Then you chase him down and ‘fire’ him. Then you come home, get spit upon and invest every penny you have in foreign arms manufacturers cause you know that this will never end.

That much sums it up on adults Calvin.

Invalid premise.

What’s wrong Dad? No clever and misleading explanation for this one?

It certainly displaces the world’s problems.

Unfortunately Calvin there really are bad people in the world. The solutions to problems are not always back and white. There are circumstances in history were a man of peace has had to go to war to prevent a greater tragedy. There is also no doubt that war has been waged for a variety of really bad reasons as well. All one can do is get the facts and make up your own mind. Sometimes that may mean “I don’t like it, but this is necessary,” or “This is not patriotic, it is mass murder and I will have none of it.”

Children do often ask tough questions. As do overly philosophical cartoonists.

Finally the question is asked.

boy, he hit that nail on the head

Profound question, in its simplicity.

One of the most pertinent comic panels of all time.

Thanks for reminding us Bill, we really don’t know either.

In another comic, Calvin’s dad says to the effect. “I wouldn’t have been in such a hurry to grow up if I had known it was one big ad lib.”

It’s interesting how Calvin can toggle between thoughtless and thoughtful.

All interesting comments here.

Also interesting comments made when this strip ran on February 18 1991:

https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1991/02/18?ct=v&cti=739333

What a difference — in some ways — that time makes…

Did someone fool you into thinking the World makes sense?

When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn.

That’s his dad alright.

this is a great one

Moe gets angry with you. He sends his friends to beat you up. Your friends come to your defence. Your friends win, and leave Moe’s friends limping away.. Neither you, nor Moe were ever really in much danger, but do you think Moe will try to go after you now that his friends have lost?

I think even a kid could understand why people in power might use proxies to fight for them. No, it doesn’t solve any world problems.

And how do politicians hating each other and wasting time trying to impeach a former president solve the problems in America? (sincere question!)

other than decreasing surplus population. they don’t. Thanos would approve.

CHURCH!

Answer: They don’t.

Fighting Napoleon, U.S. civil war, and the Nazis were just a waste of time .

Sure as hell settled the Hitler/Tojo problem.

When I first read this strip as a kid, I asked my mom the exact same question. She gave me the exact same response.

“How does…”

Calvin has found the perimeter of wisdom!

The answer my friend….

One side thinks that they can have everything, so we have to teach ’em a lesson. :D