Numerous chronicles and stories have been created in the name of war. All the more that novels become masterpieces if they were based on actual events. It’s like playing a part in history books minus mentioning your name, of course. We want that void filled somewhere deep inside, the feeling of whether you mattered in a story, even if you were just on the sidelines.
How ironic is it that we place tragic events on a pedestal while turning a blind eye on the folks who lost their lives and loved ones? Often the trauma lingers even after celebrating victories. I don’t think money can even come close to replacing a life. If only wars never existed, we would just be tending to our lives and further cultivating them.
As we trace back the roots of war, the latter exists because of conflict. Whether it arose due to food, territory, or resources, it’s like a mix of unity and diversity. Unity in a sense that inhabitants had a common goal and excluded groups with a different belief than theirs. The visual accounts of such can be seen in ancient carvings dating back to the Sumerian tribes. Although we don’t know who gave the idea of organizing what we now call war, I can only infer that it came about as a response to a threat.
Then came conquests for power and land. I can’t tell if greed propelled this ideology of success or more of making a legacy for the generations to come. Along with it came revolts and skirmishes within territories, usually brought about by overstepping boundaries. Striking a balance between opposing parties is always challenging, but those in the upper hand vehemently make all the rules.
One example of a struggle within a nation is the American civil war. There are tons of stories written about the latter based on facts or fiction due to the immense bloodshed and death toll, similar to Francis Dutch’s book about civil war. Not in anyone’s wildest dreams have they seen such a torturing 4-year conflict, let alone leading to the assassination of a president. It shows what extent a particular direction can lead any person to do.
What gives me that heavy feeling is that it compromises the welfare of those caught in the middle. Like what happened to Casualties of War, the vulnerable take the most significant hit.
I can only imagine the terror and helplessness felt by the victims. I wouldn’t wish that for any child to experience. Imagine getting confused with all the hate and turmoil around you and what that will do to one’s mental health. Physical wounds can be stitched and tended, but emotional scars can last a lifetime.
“We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children.” (Jimmy Carter)
Upon watching and reading about stories on the battlefield, I can’t help but wonder if winning in warfare is worth it. Most would coin it as collateral damage, but what if it was your family in the middle of it all? Would you still have the same mindset or sentiment if that were the case?
And we’re not just talking about the physical impacts. The psychological side is also affected, especially by those on the front lines. Fortunately, we’ve now educated ourselves on mental health concerns, but the previous generations weren’t so lucky. Many soldiers had PTSD in silence, again affecting people close to them.
In most accounts, what significantly contributed to the death toll were illnesses, famine, and diseases caused by battle wounds since the healthcare system wasn’t sophisticated in the past. An invisible enemy in the midst of it all is more difficult to win against in this case.
I just fervently hope that humanity learns to care a little bit more and consider all things before engaging the other party head-on. The adverse effects of battle far outweigh the benefits, and the costs of waging warfare can be felt up to the future generations of the victims. We owe it to ourselves, for we deserve continuous peace and tranquility.
“Nothing will end war unless the people refuse to go to war.” -Albert Einstein
Oliver’s Twist 