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The Devastating Reality of War: A Call for Peace |
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War has been a prevalent part of human history, and while some have been
fortunate enough not to have lived through it, its horrors are well-known to us
through movies and real-life accounts. However, many argue that such depictions
are exaggerated to garner an audience. Yet, in my opinion, war is even more
brutal than what is shown through third-person accounts.
The immense suffering caused by war is unfathomable. Innocent civilians are
maimed or killed, while soldiers face irreparable physical and mental damage,
even years after the conflict has ended. For example, the effects of Agent
Orange, used in the Vietnam War over two decades ago, are still felt by young
children with enormous swollen heads due to inhalation of the gas. The infamous
Nanjing Massacre is another example of how soldiers, consumed by blood lust, can
cause immeasurable suffering. With such destruction, how can war ever be
justified?
Moreover, war damages everything around us. While the Gulf War liberated Kuwait
from the invasion of Iraq, it took months for the damage to the environment and
economy to subside. When the Iraqis set fire to oilfields to create obstacles
for Allied forces, they also created one of the worst ecological disasters of
the century. Thousands of wildlife died from pollution, and the air remained
foul for months. Kuwait had to rebuild its economy from scratch, barely able to
support its people.
In a war, there are no winners. The amount of resources and lives lost by both
sides does not justify violence as a solution. During World Wars I and II,
victors and losers alike spent years recovering from the devastation. This could
have been avoided had peaceful means been employed to resolve conflicts before
they escalated to the point of war.
The only justification for war is to defend one's liberty. Every human being has
the fundamental right to freedom. When a country's tyranny takes that away, the
primal urge to free oneself and survive is understandable. Only in such cases,
when one's safety and liberty are truly threatened, should war be considered.
However, what is the price of freedom if so much is destroyed in the process?
What is life if one has to live in shame and slavery? Unfortunately, this is a
Gordian knot that modern society has yet to untie. We must strive for peace and
seek peaceful resolutions to conflicts before they escalate to the point of war.
The devastating reality of war demands a call for peace. |
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