The biggest crisis that has etched millions of scars in history and continues to destroy humanity even today, is war. War fought for the wrong reasons. War that is absurd. The Oxford English Dictionary defines war as “a situation in which two or more countries or groups of people fight against each other over a period of time.” However, war is not only a political or social disagreement it is the relentless pursuit of power and the clash of thoughts resolved only by the eerie silence of the graves.
The world has witnessed the outbreak of many bloody wars, but one in particular has scarred most history textbooks, World War II. World War II was one of the most gruesome wars that led to many families and homes being destroyed. It was a testament to HG Wells’s saying, “If we don’t end war, war will end us.” The number of casualties ranged from 35 million to 60 million as the exact number of casualties was never accounted for because of the tremendous bloodshed.
Death is not the only reason for war being a dilemma and an adversity. War drains a country’s resources and economy as well. Due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war both countries have lost a large amount of money. According to the economic observatory, in the first year of the war Ukraine lost 30-35% of it’s GDP and in 2022, 7.1 million more people were forced into poverty. Sanctions as well were placed on Russia, hoping to make economic difficulties for the country. Economic stability is essential for the people, it means having the resources they need for their livelihoods.
War plays with people’s lives, in fact it is us ourselves who play with the lives of our fellow beings because war does not start on its own, humans are the ones who hold the strings.
War brings out the dark side of humanity. The thirst for power, and violence. Humans voluntarily, on their own will conduct mass killings, harm innocent people, and cause pain to others.
One of the most disturbing acts humans commit during war is rape. Sexually assaulting innocents and minors at times just to exact revenge? Assert their dominance? It is inhumane. Not to mention the forced conscription. The separation of families, and disrupting one’s present as well as future.
Another reason why war is a crisis not only to the countries fighting it but to humanity as a whole is since war can have spill-over effects. Especially in present times, where weaponry has developed to such an extent that it could destroy nations. Countries around the area of war often face instability. War’s can trigger conflicts that can have extreme consequences such as violent protests, terrorism, and riots.
Furthermore, the use of chemical weaponry, firepower and military tactics, cause great damage to the environment around us. Deforestation for military fortifications and settlements, loss of biodiversity and damage to multiple ecosystems are just a few effects on the nature that gives us sustenance. Civilian population is also then directly impacted. Due to military activities if water and land resources get contaminated, they are no longer usable for agriculture, and other day to day requirements.
It is not only the civilians who suffer. The soldiers fighting to protect their people face harsh conditions on the battle field. Constant enemy shelling’s, bearing extreme weather, malnutrition, and lack of sleep. Not to mention, the psychological effects. Due to the constant death, and killing, soldiers can develop post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. They can lose their sense of identity and values because of the morally grey happenings. As glorified the life of a soldier is the conditions are even worse. Just as Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “There is no glory in battle worth the blood it costs”.
War cannot be simply classified as a crisis, it is a sentiment, a violent sentiment that can bring humanity to its knees.
War is a representation of humanity’s darkness, where lives are taken on purpose. It does not only inflict profound suffering but it destroys everything, be it families, communities, livelihoods and ecosystems. It evokes strong emotions t such as hatred, fear and insecurity making one mistrust everything around them. Mostly, it continues a long cycle of vengeance, that eventually scar generations to come. War is an example of humanity’s failure to resolve conflicts with peace and diplomacy. It challenges moral and ethical values of humans, is the bloodshed worth the money? Power? Disagreement?
Coming back to why war is the biggest crisis humanity faces, is facing and has faced, it is simply so because war brings nothing but destruction. Not only destruction of economy, resources, and land but the destruction of humanity.
Albert Einstein is often quoted to have said “I know not with what weapons World War Three will be fought, but World War Four will be fought with sticks and stones.” This highlights the amount of destruction war can cause that it can set back hundreds of years of humanity’s efforts with a few weapons.
By: Vrindaa Sharma
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