For those of you who know
me, I usually don't say anything unless there's something to say. This is something that really has been
bothering me for some time, and doesn't seem to make any sense. Why, with all
the advancements that we've made in all areas of our lives, do we still have
warring nations? Why are we still
fighting two wars in lands most of us have never stepped foot on? We of all nations should be holding ourselves
accountable for our actions, and should be acting as a role model for all the
rest of the world.
Warfare is not only
barbaric, it's an abomination. A handful
of men send countless of their brethren to go out and end the lives of people
they designate an enemy, who are typically just kids following the same
commands from another small group of men.
Every one of those killed are not only human, but have hopes and dreams
cut short, grieving families left unattended, and only leave behind bitter
memories for those who cared about them.
And if that's not enough, civilians, those who are incapable of
protecting themselves, are still being targeted the world over, as if killing
them rids the people that rule over them.
They are murdered while going about their daily tasks, going to work,
going to school, going to the market, even at home as they lay slumbering in
their beds. Their lives are no less real
than yours or mine, and yet, for the sake of the few, they are killed. And don't think that even today we are above
this. Just go back a few year to the
cold war; do you honestly think we would
have had any hesitation about launching nuclear weapons at our enemies' cities if one of ours were struck first.
You may say we're at war
now because we're defending ourselves and the people living in the countries
we're fighting. This may be true, but we
must remember that wars historically started by someone or some group of people
wanting something that someone else had.
So they go and try to take whatever they want for themselves. Lands, gold, resources, dreams, they all had
a part to play in warfare. It's amazing
how childish humanity has been, and the fact that we've managed to survive this
long. In those cases, would it have
killed us to try something much more radical than murdering our neighbors? Sharing?
And if there is something we can't share, couldn't we just play a game of football, and
the winner takes home whatever it is we're fighting for? By the way, does anyone even remember what
we're fighting for today?
World peace isn't just a
dream, it's a serious possibility if we just stop kidding ourselves. We don't all have to love each other and hold
hands, we don't even have to like each other.
We all are different. Each culture has their own uniqueness that often
makes us incompatible and prone to dislike or even hatred. But we have always tended to settle down
around people most like us, those who share our ideology and
compatibilities. This is the basis of
nationality and community. Does it mean
that we can't benefit from those people we can't stand, people from another
city, another state, another nation? And vice versa? I think it would be in everyone's best
interest if we all stopped fighting like children in the school yard and
actually try to cooperate like adults. Just
like any reconciliation process, all it takes is an understanding of the other
people's situation, somehow finding a common ground everyone can work toward,
and an environment that facilitates honesty, trust and cooperation. If we give a little, they'll give a little
back.
And as far as the enemy
of today, you may say they fall under a category of radicals, someone we cannot
reason with. That may be true, but they
come from a region that is deeply torn from western interference, triggered by
German's prosecution of the Jews, and compounded by the forming of Israel,
which took the homeland from its native people.
At this point, hardly any of us remember what the world was like in that
time, nor probably do any of the men fighting in the region today. All that motivates them is a deep seated
anger, passed down from their parents and grandparents, and a drive to be part
of something bigger, something that gives their lives meaning. Where else can
they find satisfaction other than joining the militaries that promise them
food, shelter, protection and revenge?
Isn't it time to let that anger go?
So much time has passed that the disputed land in the region now is home
to both Israelis and Palestinians alike. They need to find a way to share, or
nobody should have it.
And as far as us warring
with nations to liberate the people, I say we let the people decide. If the people aren't strong enough, and the
leadership is subverting or harming its own, then the world needs to stand
together as one and charge the leadership with crimes against humanity. Instead of invading their homeland with
legions of soldiers, we'd only need to send a small delegation to arrest the
offending parties and try them on a world stage with their own people being the
jurors. If a government is truly guilty,
then it's people won't stand in the way of justice, and even the military would
be forced to step down if the whole world were against them. No nation, not even us, would be able to
stand up and fight if the rest of the world were truly united against them. Imagine if there were no more wars between
nations than there were wars between New York and North Carolina. For those counting, that total would be one.
June 17, 2011
