If you heard any of the NPR story on Stanley Karnow, then on your mind might be some of the stories of war brutality that were told during the program. It made me wonder if all wars—well, at least those in the last hundred years or so—were rife with such barbaric behavior. Like our beloved World War II and its heralded heroes? In war, violence, of course, is expected. Killing is accepted and justified. But torture, rape, destruction for the joy of it...when did they become a part of it?
Look, let me back up for a minute. I don’t believe in war of any kind. I don’t really understand it, and it is beyond my comprehension that it could be viewed as a means to solve any conflict. It’s pointless. And it’s all an atrocity, not just those acts labeled as such. That said, I do believe that under this guise of sanctioned murder, that a degree of mutual decency should be observed. This is, of course, crazy. But I exist in a world where war shouldn’t exist, so I am already cut adrift in fantasyland.
Which brings me to a point of sorts. As a woman who believes in equality of the sexes, I should view the recent ruling that women be allowed to serve in military combat as an advancement in the cause. But, instead, it fills me with sadness. We don’t need more warriors, we need fewer reasons for warriors to be needed.
Once again, how misguided are our intentions. Just as how we bitterly argue for and against abortion, when, if both sides focused that energy on prevention of unwanted pregnancy, we’d have little left to dispute. Change out the word abortion for gun rights and unwanted pregnancy for epidemic violence and you have the exact conversation.
When it comes to equal rights, I’d much prefer that we equally have our “right” to go to war forfeited rather than granted.
What a waste.
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