War

On October 28th 2022, the epic German anti-war film (an adaptation to the 1929 novel of the same name), All Quiet On The Western Front was released globally. Set during World War 1, the German-point-of-view film follows our main character, Paul. He has just joined the German army with excitement and has nothing but glory and victory in sight. However, he quickly realizes that war is not what he thought as we see him undergo a brutal and heartbreaking journey, trying to survive all the violence of war surrounding him.

Warning: There may be content ahead that some readers could find violent, depressing or conflicting. Be advised, and thank you for reading.

Being the anti-war film that it is, All Quiet On The Western Front shows us the true potential horrors of war. While watching it, you can't stop from wondering, is war really meant to be this? Is war always like this? And if so, why?

War brings out the worst in us. I know, it's a sad truth but we need to understand that during times of violence, we civilized people can stoop low enough and becoming capable of commit unspeakable acts of violence and cruelty. It's a manifestation of our deepest fears, insecurities and flaws. It's a clash of ideologies, cultures and beliefs that often loads to the destruction of art, literature and other forms of creative expressions. War is, essentially, a breeding ground for the darkest aspects of humans. The history of warfare is rife with examples of the terrible things that humans are capable of doing to one another. From the genocide of the Holocaust to the brutal tactics used in battles such as Stalingrad, war has shown us the depths of our depravity. We've seen the killing of innocent civilians, he use of torture and rape as weapons of war, and the exploitation of vulnerable populations for profit or gain.

After reading that, you're probably not asking why does was have this effect on us? Why do we become capable of such terrible things (don't worry, I'm here to answer all the questions you've never asked!)? Well, part of it has to do with the nature of conflict itself. When soldiers go to war, they are fighting against an enemy that they perceive as a threat to their very existence. They fight for survival, and that means they'll do whatever it takes to live and win. In the words of the poet Wilfred Owen: 'Dule et Decorum Est, Pro partia mori' which translates to 'It is sweet and fitting, to die for one's country.' These words, which were once used to glorify war, now ring hollow. They reveal the lie that war is noble or heroic, and that it's something to be celebrated.

Another part of it has to do with the psychology of warfare. Soldiers are trained to see the enemy as less than human, to dehumanize them and reduce them down to objects that can be destroyed. This makes it easier to kill them, but it also erodes our sense of empathy and compassion. We become desensitized to violence, and our moral compass becomes distorted.

The following passage is a summarized description from a soldier's diary:

There were battles where the ground shook, where you could hear the screams of the wounded and dying. There were trenches that were like hell on earth, where men lived and died in mud and filth. I wish I could forget all of it. I saw soldiers and civilians alike, blown to pieces by bombs and artillery. I saw gas clouds that could choke a man to death in seconds. I saw men with limbs torn off, begging for death to end their agony. I myself was gassed and nearly blinded and I still have scars. I still remember the trenches, where men were forced to live in filth and disease, surrounded by death and decay.

The passage above testifies the fact that war is a brutal and destructive phenomenon that involves the large-scale use of violence and weaponry to achieve political, social, or economic objectives. The effects of war are often long-lasting and can reverberate across generations. They can include profound changes to society, culture, and politics, as well as the displacement of people and communities. The psychological toll of war can be especially devastating, leading to long-term mental health issues, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

From a philosophical perspective, war is fundamentally wrong because it violates the principles of morality and ethics. It involves the intentional infliction of harm on others, and it disregards the value of human life. It's a violation of the basic human rights of individuals and communities, including the right to life, liberty, and security. War is also a failure of diplomacy, which should be the preferred means of resolving conflicts.

Furthermore, war is a wasteful and inefficient use of resources. It diverts precious time, money, and energy away from more constructive pursuits, such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development. It also perpetuates inequality and injustice, as those who are most vulnerable to the effects of war are often the ones who suffer the most.

Despite these obvious reasons why war is wrong, it continues to persist. Some argue that war is necessary to protect our interests and defend ourselves from threats. Others claim that war is an inevitable part of human nature, and that we will always be engaged in conflict. However, these arguments are flawed and misguided.

Firstly, the idea that war is necessary to protect our interests is based on a flawed understanding of what our interests are. It assumes that our interests are always in conflict with those of others, and that we must use force to defend them. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy that perpetuates the cycle of violence and conflict.

Secondly, the claim that war is inevitable is a defeatist attitude that ignores the potential for human agency and change. We are not powerless in the face of war; we can choose to reject it and work towards a more peaceful and just world.

The truth is that war is a choice, not a necessity. It's a choice that we make as individuals, as communities, and as nations. We can choose to engage in dialogue, negotiation, and compromise instead of resorting to violence. We can choose to prioritize the well-being of all human beings, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, or religion. We can choose to build bridges instead of walls, and to seek common ground instead of stoking division.

In conclusion, war is fundamentally wrong because it's a destroyer of beauty, a violator of morality and ethics, and a waste of resources. It's a choice that we make, and it's a choice that we must unmake. We must reject the idea that war is necessary or inevitable in order to make the world a better place.