In the time of war, the first casualty is truth. Boake Carter.
There is perception and there is reality. Some thoughts pervade and some thoughts provoke. The image is affluent, contented, and serene. The reality is impoverished, malnourished, and bloody. And this reality is depressing. The world has been a witness and victim of wars and bloodshed for centuries and there has not been a stopping point. The recent spate of attacks and violence has made the situation all the more baffling. The duration of wars is unpredictable and the casualties unaccounted for. War is dehumanizing, ruthless, and cruel by definition. It is brutal and its consequences are not just physical devastation, but long-lasting social and psychological deformities.
The world is inflicted with violence, be it the terrorist attacks carried out by fanatics in the name of jihad or airstrikes carried out by governments in the name of anti-terrorist missions. Whatever be the nature of violence, the ultimate consequence is the destruction of humanity. The perpetrators of war have nothing to lose. They exploit the innocent masses who are both the fighters and the fought, oblivious to the real motive of the mindless bloodshed. Wars and violence have triggered chain reactions. Once a terrorist strike happens, the government gears up to fight this terrorism the violent way, and terror strikes again. If history is replete with instances of terrorist attacks and the ensuing devastation, then there are a plethora of instances where the armed forces have tortured the common masses on the pretext of anti-terrorist operations. There are no saviors in war; only mortals who are trying to sort out ego clashes in the garb of economic superiority or a superpower status. Our ancestors fought for the sake of certain religious ideologies which had no real meaning in the life of a common man, but he got involved and affected. Such ghastly acts are being done today in the name of so many other ideologies and the victim and the vanquished is the common man again. Who says our society has become more sophisticated and civilized? The means might have changed, but the proposed end is the same, which is a big blow to humanity and tolerance.
Be it a young soldier or a terrorist, see it through the eyes of a mother. She has lost a son in both cases. And both of them did not know why were they fighting. Imagine the plight of so many orphaned children who have been the victims of violence. And when this phenomenon strikes impoverished countries, the conditions deteriorate to a level that can neither be improved nor changed.
As time goes by, the frequency of violent fervor is accelerating. Insensitivity and lack of wisdom are catalyzing its replication, intensity, and aftermath. The time is not far when the web of war would engulf us forever and barbarism would be an accepted norm.
No one wants to lose a war, so losing morals is a convenient bargain!
References
Arendt, Hannah; A Special Supplement – Reflections on Violence, 1969, The New York Review of Books. 2007. Web.
War and Violence, 2006, Atrocities. Web.