When Reason and Commonsense Fail

War and Annihilation
@Shiva49 (26209)
Singapore
February 27, 2022 7:52am CST
I have a view 99% do not want wars because they are the ones to suffer. The balance 1% wants them badly as they benefit materially and then to stroke their ego. They have limited empathy and also compassion. Why do we allow the one percent to cast their pall of gloom on the rest? Are we so powerless and get led like sheep? The most innocent get killed while the leaders in crime will live on as also their families. If their lives are at stake, will they take the plunge? Wars are repugnant to reason and anachronistic in the modern world. We are horrified when someone gets killed by the act of another for whatever reason. But wars are mostly preplanned and get justified through national interests, but who is the ultimate authority to decide? I would say it is one person to fortify his position. Well, we have the United Nations but the powerful and even the powerless disregard it as well as other such organizations. When the weapons of annihilation are ready at hand, then the itch to use them by the few to flex their muscles is too tempting. The world needs to rise as one not to be used by the one percent. Each day that we close our eyes is a day wasted. Image: War and Annihilation
11 people like this
10 responses
@LadyDuck (458584)
• Switzerland
27 Feb 22
You are so right, when leaders decide for a war, they should be sent to front line to fight like normal soldiers. I am sure we would see no more wars.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (458584)
• Switzerland
1 Mar 22
@Shiva49 - They are always ready to fight for power. They should place their people on top of their priorities. How many are dying or will die for the ego of some leaders? Already young children have been killed, for what? More power? This is insane.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
2 Mar 22
@LadyDuck I recall a world war veteran reminiscing about his days in the world war. He was reacting to peace treaties after millions die and more suffer for no fault of theirs. He said he felt nothing as he was still numbed by those who were killed and he could well have been one among them. My father was an army doctor in World War ll and he hardly wanted to talk about his days at the war front. Maybe, he felt it all made no sense when people are butchered and he could well have been one among the sacrificial lambs. I like to repeat what Einstein said, "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones". Do our leaders really care? They should get their priorities right. How many common folks will say "let us go for another war". There are many sane ways to settle disputes. As Gandhi said, " An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind". What an irony for mankind when one person can press the button to extinguish most lives and set us back to The Stone Age?
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
28 Feb 22
True, when their lives are at stake they will think many times. Then false prestige and ego will yield to reason and harsh reality.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (85442)
• Bangalore, India
27 Feb 22
War has been there since the human race came. It's sad and unfortunate that the so called civilized world still has wars. You are right that organizations like UN also fail as the geopolitical angle and economic angles become more important than humanitarian ones. It's unfortunate but the bitter truth that as long as discrimination like poor and rich, powerful and weak etc would be there wars would keep on coming. And the two sides might get back to the track sooner or later, but there would be lives that would never be normal again...the pain and agony, the loss and deep hurt will torment them for rest of the lives. And we would have many stories on both sides.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
28 Feb 22
Some tend to think it will be back to life as usual. But this mindless violence set the world back with the most innocent ending up as pawns in the hands of the few who pat themselves that their writ ran. We need people to speak out for peace, those who realize the world is one populated by people who are no different and yearn for coexistence. Powerful leaders tend to be afraid of their shadows even thinking the whole world is like them. Those like Daniil Medvedev, the world's No. 1 Tennis player, are more in touch with the pulse of the people all over the world. “By being a tennis player I want to promote peace all over the world,” Medvedev said. “We play in so many different countries. I’ve been in so many different countries as a junior and as a pro. It’s just not easy to hear all this news. I’m all for peace.”
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
4 Mar 22
@arunima25 The quote "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely" is spot on. I have moved with the very wealthy and I know how wealth plays in their mind all the time. And there are always the hangers-on out to please them to meet all their whims and fancies, feed them with inputs for more greed! As for politicians, in some countries, it is the best career! They think they have to rabble rouse all the time to remain in power.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (85442)
• Bangalore, India
4 Mar 22
@Shiva49 You have rightly mentioned that most of the world is for peace and just a handful of these drunk on power and supermacy take the lead and make rest suffer. Ironically, the ones made the guardians of peace in the world have stains of bloodshed on their hands. The bullies have got the custody of peace keeping and the ones that are really downtrodden and suffering hardly get a hearing there as they have no representation. And the ones who are supposed to treat everyone equally are the most biased ones. They toe the line with the powerful ones.
2 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41131)
• Delhi, India
28 Feb 22
Yes that 1% of the population decides the fate of others. Sadly, people are so selfish as they don't think about others' life.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
28 Feb 22
On the one hand, the same people are killing those who play sports at the same time. There is no moral justification for wars when there are better alternatives to settle disputes. As a world war veteran reminisced, "At the end, a peace treaty is signed but I feel for my friends who perished in the war. No one is a victor in the end".
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86776)
• United States
27 Feb 22
This is a very good question..why is it allowed when the majority do not want wars.
3 people like this
• United States
28 Feb 22
@Shiva49 Yes I agree good riddance Shiva
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325984)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Feb 22
I agree with what you say but it seems war in some shape or form is inevitable even today.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325984)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Feb 22
@Shiva49 Einstein could well be right.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
28 Feb 22
Yes, unless we explore the right path towards coexistence. I recall what Einstein said, "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones".
3 people like this
@Babino (5761)
• Morocco
27 Feb 22
So unfair. People are dying because of that 1%'s ego.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
28 Feb 22
Yes, sadly, that has been the case all through our history. We need to change and for that, each voice counts. What Gandhi said comes to mind: "You must be the change you want to see in the world."
3 people like this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
3 Mar 22
First of all I just want to say that if there is no spark then there would not be any fire. I feel that the wars of today are not about world dominance or anything to do with territorial issues. Second of all, I simply cannot understand the so called United organization or Super country could not meet and mediate at all. Instead, keep on raising alarms and adding supplies of weapons of destruction. Especially the latter, is that a war deterrent measure? Are the United organization really caring - Syria and Afghanistan? Thirdly is the defending country really innocent? Are they really the victims? Who shot down Malaysian Airlines? No one wants war but look at the other side of the coin. Isn't the war their (so-called victim) responsibility as well?
2 people like this
@DianneN (247079)
• United States
13 Mar 22
I agree. I'd like to see one particular leader do his fighting on the front lines
2 people like this
@DianneN (247079)
• United States
14 Mar 22
@Shiva49 Unfortunately, he will hide in his huge palace. Little guy, big chicken!
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
14 Mar 22
When he has to do the fighting himself, he will become a dove.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
15 Mar 22
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (53677)
27 Feb 22
Very well said.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
27 Feb 22
Thanks, human lives are digits in the eyes of the few unless they are their own.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34388)
1 Apr 22
Greed is one of the seven deadly sins. Some leaders seem to possess this as evidenced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Also, another of the sins, pride is at play too, as Putin need to reestablish the Soviet Union again. Don't know what the percentage is worldwide, but I can say many fall victim to these 2 sins.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
2 Apr 22
Yeah true. One leader's greed and pride make the innocent suffer - an irony that it is repeating from time immemorial.
1 person likes this