Why do we kill each other? I think the best place to start is at the beginning. First, we have to understand that even though we are intelligent beings, at the end of the day we are just humans. We are bound to a set of universal rules; we live, we die, and the in-between varies.
Murder is essentially as old as humanity. Early humans most likely murdered due to competition for resources. As we began to move away from hunting and gathering, we sought a more permanent and consistent means of obtaining our resources: agriculture. Now that we could establish forms of food security, we had less to worry about. This meant free time to pursue things that were not possible before, such as being innovative. This led to the creation of better tools, and eventually to more intelligent people. But with great power comes great responsibility. At this point, humans can communicate with each other and form opinions. But this article isn’t about a brief history of early human civilization: this is about war.
Something worth dying for.
Is it religion, your family, or your own survival? The answer varies from war to war, but have we really learned anything? Recorded human history is full of war, but why are we still fighting? My opinion is that Western civilizations find war very profitable, while Eastern civilizations fight wars to protect their ideologies. In an ideal world, I’m sure all the common man or woman wants is peace, and yet we are always fighting.
A poem.
I decided to write a poem one day as I daydreamed about life. The Sebastian line has served in many wars for the United States Military. I wrote this poem from the stories I’ve heard, but it is not pulled from any one story. Rather, it is several woven together to form a singular story. This poem is about the harsh realities of war, that no one chooses. To be clear, I’m anti-war, not anti-troops. I love the troops, they are so noble, but the war they are fighting? Not so much.
The battle is lost, and so am I.
Why did my comrades have to die?
I’ll come back home with a purple heart.
But what I really need is a fresh start.
We all wish more could have been done.
That night we fell, one by one.
I’m lucky enough to be in this wheelchair.
But my reality is a constant nightmare.
They prescribe me drugs, but it’s not enough.
“You’re a solider, you have to be tough.”
What a load of bullshit.
You’re all civilians, you don’t get it.
I drink to forget, but I always remember.
I think about suicide, but never surrender.
Every day starts to feel like a chore.
I can’t get back what I lost in the war.
I’m not just talking about my body.
It’s about my special somebody.
She’s still in my life, but feels so far away.
War does not help relationships, but rather decays.
The kids are innocent and don’t know why.
Dad had to go off to war and watch his friends die.
My prison is my mind, and the proof is the chair.
My family’s reminder is my thousand-yard stare.
I look at the calendar and dread Monday.
The worst part of the year is Independence Day.
During the night I remember the pain.
The constant explosions drive me insane.
Reality and fantasy begins to blend.
The longest night of the year never seems to end.
Think twice before you celebrate Independence Day with fireworks. You might have a veteran in your neighborhood. Even if you aren't pro-war, just remember that someone is fighting for the liberties you have everyday.
