This is War

     Upon watching Baraka, a scene that particularly struck a chord with me was of Highway 80 in Iraq or, more commonly known as the 'Highway of Death'. Just to give a brief summary, it was the site of an attack by American aircrafts and ground forces on retreating Iraqi army personnel along with others who were escaping Kuwait during the Gulf War resulting in the death of an estimated hundreds to thousands. Since then , the U.S. has proceeded to involve itself in numerous conflicts and major wars as well.

     Why do we fight wars? Is it human nature to be naturally violent? Are most of us just exceptionally good at masking our natural violent tendencies that may exist in all of us? These are questions that I sometimes wonder to myself. I won't lie about one thing though, I enjoy watching action packed movies including but not limited to the recent 'Expendables 2, Black Hawk Down, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers'. Nothing pumps my masculine side more than a good 'shoot-out' scene and it sure does give you that all American cowboy feeling. However, in real life though war is painful. It is not as depicted in movies with the glory, patriotism and bravery. Will there ever be a time when every single country and community on earth are able to agree upon the same thing?

     I believe we fight mainly because of differing beliefs and interests. What maybe right to some, maybe wrong to another. A country in need of resources will go to desperate measures to obtain it. It is an instinct after all to always believe that we are usually right. And when the time has come and the world eventually uses up its own natural resources, we will then witness the trial of humanity as we know it. Will we fight to the very last drop of oil? Or will we share every last bit? Will the principles that we have set for ourselves stand when all has fallen?

I do not know. But I do know that if we do not end war, it will end us.