The Reasonings To Justify A War
One of the harshest things any society deals with is violence. Violence is a horrible, miserable thing, and only ends in suffering. Violence in its purest form is war. War is definedas a conflict between two groups as, or in, a nation or state, but has multiple meanings varying person to person. To some, war means to fight for what’s right, for freedom, for honor, and for glory. To others, the meaning of war is far darker, usually surpassing words, sad innocent deaths, and gory unforgettable imagery. Nonetheless, war seems to be only beneficial to those who fund it, and injure most both mentally and physically, most of which are bystanders. War can be seen all around the world, from the edges of civilization, to even the world powers.
World War I is one of the most well-known wars in history and was the third worst war (casualty-wise) ever fought. It began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and ended with the death of 16. 5 million people. A whopping 6. 8 million civilians were killed in that 16. 5 million, making the percent of civilian casualties 41%. 6. 8million innocent people dead (more so if you include the soldiers forced into war), only to be justified with “they’re the enemy”, and nothing more. The reasons behind wars beginning can often look trivial with hindsight. Why start something that will end 6. 8 million lives, just for the death of one? A lot of things can be blinding to those who want to start wars. Anger is a very good way to justify these actions.
Anger empowers societies to almost act without thinking. Acting with pure emotion can be detrimental not only to the opposition but also to the country for which the war is being Fought. Although anger is the primary cause of war, there are others. Religion, rescue missions, and even just petty disagreements, Religion being the primary reason of war. . In 1095 A. D, there were a series of well-known religious wars referred to as the Crusades. These battles ranged from the medieval period, all throughout the middle ages. The First Crusade marked the beginning of these battles. The reason for starting this bloody war was the Catholics wanted to take over the Holy Land and end the reign of Muslim rule. The Catholics never succeeded with their mission, and killed only in vain. It is not uncommon for opposing countries to capture the enemy’s troops and hold them as “prisoners of war”. This war tactic is done for a multitude of reasons, ranging from exploiting the prisoners for their labor, to demonstrating dominance over the opposing country. Regardless of the reasoning, forcefully kidnapping and torturing the “enemies” troops is still a heinous act. Not only could the soldier be tortured for “protecting their country”, innocent people may be murdered in attempt to rescue this prisoner.
War is a gamble. If won, the country could gain a much needed economic boost. Many countries begin wars in a desperate attempt to boost their poverty stricken economy. Winning also could unite one nation with another. Success also brings new technological advancements, albeit, mostly weaponized and vehicle-based advancements. Earlier stated, war is a gamble. Treaties and congratulations await the victor, but if victory is unachieved, it could destroy any societal advancements. Scientific research, engineering notes on the brink of advancing into the future, valuable resources, all destroyed. Territories and landmarks also risk being demolished by the violence and bombing that war carries with it. Overall, the list of cons in war weigh out the list of benefits, but the reasoning for it will always be justified by said country.
