Why Can't We Be Friends?
Lately, I have been thinking about the various struggles and disagreements around the world. I have been struggling with what I feel constitutes a just war and whether or not such a war exists today.
Most parents teach their kids that violence is never the answer to your problems but as they grow up they see that a violent act is always met with another violent act. The propaganda machines fire up and all we hear is, 'they hit us so we hit them back,' and the response from the other side of the conflict is, 'they struck us again so we must defend ourselves.' This cycle continues and continues, always striking in retaliation for the latest strike. In some areas of the world this has been going on for centuries and what boggles my mind is that these people are doing these evil acts in the name of religion. To kill innocent people in the name of God, regardless of whether or not you are Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, is despicable.
Wars are currently being used as tools for nation building, and if we have learned anything from history that only builds resentment. Remember, a lot of the current Taliban in Afghanistan were trained by the Americans in the 80's. We all see the result of the Iran/Iraq war in the 80's today. The problem with those two conflicts are countries sticking their nose where they do not belong.
Speaking of resentment, one of the major causes of the Second World War was German resentment towards the Allied Powers for humiliating them at the end of the Great War with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. The Allied Powers tried to grind them into the ground instead of attempting to reconcile.
Look further back to 1914. It is quite evident that what truly started the war was the July Ultimatum to Serbia from Austria-Hungary after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914. Austria-Hungary had been looking for any reason to go to war with the Serbs and they knew that this coercive diplomacy would only lead to one thing, armed conflict.
The Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union was a result of nobody wanting to compromise during or after the Second World War which lead to mistrust and resentment.
Maybe it seems like I am over simplifying the matter but when I get into a disagreement with someone we try to find common ground. Once we do that the other conflicts fall into place. It is not always easy but throwing a punch or refusing to back down will only lead to future issues and nobody leaves with resentment. Most of, if not all of, the world's current conflicts are started and perpetuated by people who refuse to give any concessions.
It turns out the more I reflect on past and current conflicts the more I abhor war, regardless if they may seem just or not. War is ugly. Military involvement only leads to more fighting. True diplomacy can only exist when nations are willing to cease taking a hardline. The problem is most world leaders are only looking to win votes. They only see the here and now, not the impact for the future.
Nobody wins a war. How can anyone be considered a winner when murder is the game? I mean, who really benefits from conflict? It only causes resentment and eventually more fighting. Certainly, it is not the people fighting or the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. When I think of astronomical amounts of money spent on weapons and ammunition to fight these wars it makes me ill. Then I realize that those weapon manufacturers must be making off like bandits with all those cushy government contracts. Peacetime must be a lean time for these guys.
I ask again, who benefits from war?
Bradley B. Shea