World War II was the reason I didn't file for Conscientious Objector status in 1970, since I believed that WWII was one circumstance where it was justified for "our side" to go to war. At the time, a Conscientious Objector had to believe that all war was immoral in all circumstances, and I couldn't believe that - although I saw the Vietnam War as immoral.
As I grew older, I began to see shades of grey more clearly than the black and the white, and I became stronger in my pacifism. I began to believe that even though good people might go to war in good conscience, I could still hold out for the higher ideal of peace under any circumstances.
I'm sure that many of those who condemn Human Smoke believe that pacifism is hopelessly unrealistic. Some "patriots" seem even to view pacifism as immoral. I think it's essential for us to have pacifists to remind us that we must always have the deepest reluctance to go to war; to remind us that "our side" will do many horrible and immoral acts in the course of even the most justifiable warfare; and to remind us that most soldiers of even the most evil enemy are innocent children of loving parents.
There may be necessary wars, but there is no such thing as a just war. How can there be justice, when masses of innocent people are killed on both sides? Over the last couple of decades, I've lost my belief in Absolute Truth. I can see truth in the ideal of pacifism, and truth in the patriotism of those who believe they have to fight an evil enemy. I think Human Smoke deserves serious consideration.