The Silent Weapon
Uncharted. National Treasure. Outer Banks.
There are innumerable films made about people fighting for maps. It might seem silly, ruining each other’s lives over something as trivial as a piece of paper but what may come as a surprise to many is that the struggles over these pieces of paper are not so fictitious.
History has shown again and again that even the smallest thing is not innocent and that includes maps. Over the years, maps have been used for several purposes: to navigate, to gain situational awareness, and to show political borders. However, the worst purpose of these might be to use them as weapons. Humans have weaponized pieces of paper and this has led to catastrophe in the form of infrastructural damage, injuries, and deaths.
Firstly, maps are used as propaganda. Nations may adjust the borders or change geographical sizes to promote a bias of their own onto their citizens. This falsification of maps is dangerous as shown by how militants used maps to aim at areas they could not see without having to start with ranging shots and this kept their attack as a surprise. They took advantage of the surprise to initiate more damage.
Secondly, during European colonial times, the maps displayed Britain as the center of the world with other countries surrounding it. This was used as political propaganda to promote the idea of Britain spreading knowledge to those around it to make the public more open to colonialism. It is amazing to think that something as light as a feather and thin as a toothpick could shift public opinion so drastically—maps aided in the projection of maritime dominance.
These charts were wielded by spies and intelligence organizations to map out the movements of their enemies and discuss weak spots to attack. This came of critical use during the Cold War when maps were regarded with the same importance and need as arms. The Soviet military led a mapping scheme that not only allowed them to map out the world but also topographic regions. There is no overestimating how convenient these topographic maps were during times of war. They helped the military highlight where to place bombs or traps or spies to gather information for their side.
When disputes between borders and territories occur, it is natural to assume maps are involved for they show us all that is required to know regarding a nation’s borders. Nations disagree and have conflicting interpretations of maps that may lead to war. Arguing over one’s territory is not new and while this occurs due to several factors including independence, religion, and ethnicity, maps play a vital role. The map that one is looking at may influence one’s opinion and not every map is the same; even the smallest changes could result in catastrophe.
Consequently, maps may seem harmless but history has proven over and over again that these papers should not be taken lightly. From movies to real life, maps have been weaponized and it is due to the sheer human need to take advantage of the smallest thing. While this may give them an upper hand, it could also lead to damage more atrocious than that caused by guns and bombs. Nothing can be underestimated.
By: Sneha Reddy Mukkamalla
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
