“Air war in Syria could last years.” This is one of the news headlines I saw recently for the latest warfare our country has begun. While our motivation in this one is to defeat al-Qaeda-linked terrorists and Islamic State fighters from Syria, the sad reality is that it’s only going to create more of what it’s actually trying to prevent in the long run.
I think it’s important for me to say first and foremost that I support my country, I really do. But I don’t believe in any type of war, including this latest one against the radicals in Syria. Obviously our goal is to help bring greater peace to this country, except peace will never be fully achieved through violent means such as this. Any peace that ends up appearing to be achieved in this way is really only a temporary illusion. The only reason why I believe I can safely say this is due to all the innocent casualties that occur from any type of war. Let me explain this a little better.
As I write this, I’m sure there are bombs being dropped and guns being fired in Syria. And while some of those terrorists and radicals are probably getting eliminated in the process, there are most likely others who are going to escape that initially had no desire to be part of this battle. But when they suddenly see loved ones killed, there’s a good chance they’re going to become consumed with anger and rage, and when that happens, another extremist is instantly born. Sometimes this might happen instantly if the person is old enough, and sometimes it could happen much farther down the road. Either way, this is how many of these militants come to be and their only desire from that point forward is usually to take down the oppressor, or if you prefer, the bully.
In all actuality, going to war is like being a bully, but on a much larger scale. The goal of a bully is usually to scare everyone into submission, leaving them in total control of everything and everyone. While many will put up with that control because of fear, there are always those who end up fighting back again and again until the bully suffers or is taken down.
In this case, I can almost guarantee that this air war is only going to affect our country down the road and I dread that thought completely. We’ve already been through enough incredible tragedy with the events on 9/11/2001, much of which I believe was a rebellious act from those our country formerly bullied on some level.
The simple fact is that all war is only going to breed more war. To achieve that end goal of creating peace, our country, and all countries for that matter, has to become peace itself. I pray to my Higher Power that somehow, someday, we may all see this truth. But until then, my heart goes out to all the innocent people on both sides of this latest act of aggression who may either end up perishing or watching other loved ones perish in the process. May we all just find more forgiveness in our hearts instead of turning to anger, rage, and more war in this world, as then and only then, will we achieve the peace we seek.
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
I agree.
As long as providing weapons is profitable, and as long as cannon-fodder soldiers are broke and hungry at home, the military industrial complex will ensure that wars will not end. When we vote to stop paying for them, and vote to stop sending our youth to serve as targets, and rise up to say NO! NO MORE! – then war will cease.
It was John McCutcheon who wrote this: “The ones who call the shots won’t be among the dead and lame / and on each end of the rifle, we’re the same.”
Well said Steve. I wish there were more of this that felt this way. A friend of mine at dinner tonight said that to reach peace, we must all become peace… and I most definitely agreed!