War is Indefinable Imagine a fiery barrage of artillery guns firing at the unit and hits a fellow soldier. Imagine leaving a friend behind in combat or telling a loved one or a friend he or she is dead. War isn’t glamorous. But instead of telling the sadden soul bad news, on the contrary soldiers substitute it, by saying the fallen soldier showed immense bravery for peace, to relieve the violence and suffering, for the country. However many question the reason of war. Is it merciless or wholesome, or is there and in-between? War cannot be defined in one sentence, nor can its meaning be expressed using a few words. The word simply means more than just a military conflict between nations. War is complex. It stimulates feelings of aggression, …show more content…
Most people would answer the question “what factors war?” through the characteristics of dominance, greed, and religion. However, to fully understand one must analyze the internal motives of a nation. Today, violence’s terms have become more abstract and with deeper importance. Many take insults very serious and as a personal threat against themselves and their nation. Violence and fighting has turned universal and to a matter of competition, a matter “to keep our people safe against unlawful violence”(Wilson). But what are the intentions and purpose for fighting? Kennedy addressed that “war is simply a fact”, an inevitable cause of action that is a truth of nature, an evolutionary element that continues to grow and diminish life and meaning. War is “a destruction only man can provoke” and “only man can prevent” (Wiesel). Then why can’t mankind stop the madness? Because war is a faulty cause of our existence, sometimes violence/war is the only communication that people comprehend. But with all the modern weaponry, creates a motivating and lethal atmosphere. Without war humanity wouldn’t evolve and progress. Without war African Americans and Women may not have become equal counterparts. Without war America wouldn’t be America just an Indian ground. To say the least “Warfare may be [the only] selected..way to meet a situation”(Meade). Even though war is grim and has many undesirable reasons, war may be “worth dying for”(Reagan), fighting for. War may just be that unfortunate part of society. Maybe war isn’t “a matter of live or die”(O’Brien 127) but a matter of sacrifice in the midst of evil. Despite the death, killing and torture, war may be humanity’s only option. Though there is no way of stopping war but to make a point one must show how much one hates it. While war does provide safety after, during, war is a violation of human
As long as man has had the ability to think for himself, there has been conflict and war. Wars are waged by the rich and powerful, but fought by the poor masses who march, inexorably into the meat grinder. The question of “why do soldiers fight?” arises when looking at the study of warfare. What compelled the hoplite from Sparta, the foot soldier in Napoleon’s Grand Army, the American Infantryman on Omaha Beach, or the Army Ranger in Baghdad to willingly enlist and fight for their cause? The most devastating war in American history was by far the Civil War, claiming more American lives in four years than all other American wars (except World War I and II) combined. What is it that made these
War has been something that has existed since the most primitive eras. People selfishly fight just to get what they want, like political power or economic advantages. Events like World War 1, World War 2, and the Cold War have affected and changed our society in different ways, such as the creation of nuclear weapons, the murder of innocent people, the destruction of cities, etc. Even though war stories usually portray heroism and glory, war is not something to be glorified because it causes enormous human suffering, it creates a violent cycle that never stops and it frequently fails to resolve conflicts. War causes suffering and destruction to all the people who experience it, impacting not only the soldiers who directly fight in the war but
War is nasty; war is fun. War is thrilling; war is drudgery. War makes you a man; war makes you dead. The truths are contradictory. It can be argued, for instance, that war is grotesque.
When a researcher studies the causes of most wars, the causes for nearly any war are usually innumerable. However, there are a select few wars that even in the presence of several different motives, one underlying object or ideal seems to always be the root of the problem. One prime example of this idea is the American Civil War wherein almost every individual soldier had a different reason for being on the battlefront. One nation whose people had grown into a melting pot had slowly been torn down the center for several decades before the inevitable war came. Slavery seemed to affect everything in the United States during the time leading up to, during, and even after the Civil War. Thus, the issue was unavoidable, and whatsoever conflict
War is not one of the most pleasant images this world has seen. Usually it is regarded as one of the most
War is easily explained through the lens of social conflict theory, a sociological theory that suggests society tends toward conflict because it is made up of groups with competing interests and unequal resources. The theory proposes that a
War can be defined as “an active struggle between competing entities. It’s truly hard to tell who is right or wrong during a war. Both sides are fighting for what they believe in and what is true to their heart. In the end there is always two things promised – destruction and death. These two objects can explain the result in every facet of war from the physical to emotional.
Political Violence has been affiliated with governments and nations since the beginning of political history and plays a huge role in the causes of Wars around the world. What causes leaders to declare war? Many philosophers have based their studies and theories on this question; many have different perspectives. One philosopher, John Stoessinger, has expressed his theories on the causes of war through what he calls his “misperception framework.” Stoessinger shows great interests in the personalities of world leaders; he is less impressed with the roles of abstract forces such as nationalism, militarism, economic factors, or alliance systems as the causes of
War is a human endeavor. Humanity continually pursues solutions to counter evolving threats with the end of preserving power while also enabling peace. Civilizations resort to war to maintain their perception of this equilibrium. Defined threats and adversaries have changed throughout history, however, the essence of human nature and the base concept of conflict itself have not. Carl von Clausewitz’s theories on warfare capture the relationship between humanity and its application of war, remaining relevant in today’s era through their pensive explanations of timeless philosophical principles regarding the concept of war. These theories regarding war in politics, the key factors affecting war, and the extent that war is applied are inherently interconnected, providing insight on the relationships between humanity and its application of war.
“War is hell, but that’s not the half of it, because war is also mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and despair and longing and love. War is nasty; war is fun. War is thrilling; war is drudgery. War makes you a man; war makes you dead.” (80)
“War is hell, but that's not the half of it, because war is mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and despair and longing and love. War is nasty; war is fun. War is thrilling; war is drudgery. War makes you a man; makes you dead.” (80).
If we look at the history of the world with a kaleidoscope, we can see the different aspects of war and what effect it had on the mind of different people and artists such as poets, painters and authors. Many poets romanticized war, luring it with their pen and giving it a beautiful look by glorifying death and obliging young blood to fight for their motherland. For example the poems “Peace” by Rupert Brooke and “Fall In” by Harold Begbie painted war with the highlights of glamorous and sensation. Apart from poets there are also politicians who achieved their aims with the help of war and violence while others who used the weapons of non violence to achieve their goals. The most famous example is of Adolf Hitler who took the aid of war to
War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, written by the talented author Chris Hedges, gives us provoking thoughts that are somewhat painful to read but at the same time are quite personal confessions. Chris Hedges, a talented journalist to say the least, brings nearly 15 years of being a foreign correspondent to this book and subjectively concludes how all of his world experiences tie together. Throughout his book, he unifies themes present in all wars he experienced first hand. The most important themes I was able to draw from this book were, war skews reality, dominates culture, seduces society with its heroic attributes, distorts memory, and supports a cause, and allures us by a
Wars are often glorified in tone to give praise and respect for those on the battlefields. There is an overall understanding that there are sacrifices needed in order to accomplish a larger goal. Excluded from this understanding is the realization that the effects of war
War is a seen by those who are against it as the most devastating and dreaded type of human interaction ADDIN EN.CITE Hedges2003517Hedges (2003)5175176Hedges, C.War is a force that gives us meaning2003Gütersloh, GermanyRandom House9781400034635http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=k-KlOS_4b-8C HYPERLINK l "_ENREF_4" o "Hedges, 2003 #517" Hedges (2003). In the society, we leave in, discussions about war are held and preparations for warfare are a normal day-to-day occurrence. Proponents of war argue that nations get a meaning from war and not just carnage and destruction in it way. ADDIN EN.CITE Hedges2003517Hedges (2003)5175176Hedges, C.War is a force that gives us meaning2003Gütersloh, GermanyRandom House9781400034635http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=k-KlOS_4b-8C HYPERLINK l "_ENREF_4" o "Hedges, 2003 #517" Hedges (2003) argues that war gives life a meaning and purpose there by giving people a reason to leave. According to Hedges, with war an excitement hangs in the air. War provides a cause and a resolve to a country as it allows its citizens to be noble ADDIN EN.CITE Hedges2003517(Hedges, 2003)5175176Hedges, C.War is a force that gives us meaning2003Gütersloh, GermanyRandom House9781400034635http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=k-KlOS_4b-8C( HYPERLINK l "_ENREF_4" o "Hedges, 2003 #517" Hedges, 2003).