Luck Public School
Luck, Wisconsin
An unknown author once stated, “To preserve peace we need weapons of
smaller and men of larger caliber.” Peace is a fragile concept. It is
extremely easy for it to fall to pieces. Those who wage war must be prepared for
all possible outcomes. At times, history has demonstrated that it is easier to
wage war than to maintain peace. Peace means confronting a problem and trying to
make a compromise. It can be hard to accept the fact that there is a problem,
much less how to solve it. Negotiations can become an extended process that
points blame at someone. That may be why some people are reluctant to give peace
a chance. War, on the other hand, is easy. Fighting for vengeance or justice
could be a simpler solution than a negotiation.
“I don’t know what kind of weapons will be used in the third world war,
assuming there will be a third world war. But I can tell you what the fourth war
will be fought with---stone clubs.” Albert Einstein had an excellent point. He
is saying that if humans continue to fight without understanding the mistakes
from the previous wars, the present generation will be as ignorant as
Neanderthals. A war without first comprehending the consequences would be a loss
for everyone involved. Robert Lynd once said, “The belief in the possibility
of a short decisive war appears to be one of the most ancient and dangerous of
human illusions.” Short wars do not exist. War has never solved problems. Only
people can solve problems. Wars start because of problems such as political
tension, economic devastation, and death. Wars are waged to protect and defend a
country or idea. An unknown author once said, “The thing that makes life so
cruel is that everyone has such good reasons.” Combat can seem a fitting
solution for any party mad at another. Problems arise when leaders have to ask
themselves, “How many people have to die before we can declare victory or
defeat?” Does such a number even exist?
History has shown humans that wars can be started for petty reasons. Pride,
land, race, religion, revenge, and power have been some examples for conflict.
It can be difficult for citizens to accept the fact that they might have to
sacrifice their lives so that their government can gain more power or land. On
the other hand, others would give their lives to obtain or maintain the freedom
of religion, freedom from segregation, or extermination because of race. That is
the reason that war issues are so sensitive.
War is delicate. It needs to be thought over thoroughly before any action is
taken. If one wrong move is made, thousands of people could lose their homes,
freedom, or even lives. The bible states “All those who take up the sword
shall likewise perish by the sword.” A warrior has to be willing to give their
life as soon as they choose a weapon. War is a basic concept. Even children have
an understanding of the notion. From observing children in a daycare center
preschoolers can be seen fighting over toys or who gets to be at the front of
the line. Perhaps humans are born with a slight hostility towards others and
have to learn how to positively interact with others and gain the advantage of
effective negotiations. Children can easily be taught how to share or give and
take so everyone receives some satisfaction. Adults tend to forget what they
learned in childhood and focus more on making their own lives better for themselves.
Greed can also be the reason for war.
The results of war are always devastating. As expected, there is always the
geographical damage. Homes, businesses, and landscapes are common casualties.
Military personnel tend to suffer the greatest damage. Physical wounds will
heal. Emotional wounds tend to cut deeper and do not always heal. Political
leaders don’t always realize the mental anguish that their soldiers are in.
Battles are oversized mind games. The emotional damage that can occur to a man
can be fatal. When men are drafted, one could say military personnel are
literally putting their lives in a leader’s hand. Warfare can be compared to a
game of chess. Political leaders are the hands that move the pieces. The
soldiers are the pieces. The pieces have to do as the hand commands.
For thousands of years mankind has struggled with the concept of peace. To
obtain peace, everyone must put aside insignificant differences, cooperate, and
think of the welfare of all parties. Peace takes hard work, dedication,
forgiveness, tolerance, and most of all, effort. The whole world has seen the
effects of war. Let the world finally see the positive effects of peace. The
rewards of peace would be much more gratifying then of war.
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