Military Conflict from the earliest ages to the present.

A.Mookerjee

Banned Member
What differs from the earliest days of combat, till today, is the fact that we have more regard, for the act of military combat now, than we had in those early days. Man does not need a nuclear war to remind him of the futility of war. Because we are aware of the futility of war, is the reason, we have not destroyed ourselves, as human beings. Man could have fought wars, in those early days, till the last man stood. Some motive compelled man to reason otherwise, but he did not give up the idea of armed conflict, whether military, individual, or to do with groups. One may come to deduce, that man neither believes, in combat, nor in non-combat. One may also further deduce, that this state of affairs has to do with wanting not to be identified with neither combat nor with non combat at different times. Man has been proved wrong, when he has decided to be engaged in combat, like Adolf Hitler, and also when he has taken the path of non confrontation, like Mr Chamberlain. Man is peaceful, when he neither identifies himself as an aggressor, nor otherwise. Why he cannot accept this non identity, perhaps, has to do with identifying with the 'herd', mentality. Man is looking for that, which he has never attained, by identifying himself, as a pacifist, or as an aggressor. Man, perhaps, wants peace, which cannot be identified. How does one identify peace?
 

Cooch

Active Member
I suggest that there is no simple answer, but some comments may be made.

First, I disagree that conflict is always futile. It may not be the best imaginable option, but when faced with a violent and malignant enemy, it may be the most practical option. If conflict protects the people and things that you value above your own life, then it is not futile. Not if you win.

Secondly, "man" is neither singular, nor simple. (Tho some are simpler than others.:confused:)
We cannot realistically say that "man" wants any one thing, when men differ in their desires, expectations and their willingness to use violent means to obtain them.

"Man is born to trouble, as sparks fly upwards." Says it rather well really. Perhaps the question is not whether we can avoid conflict at all times, but how we handle it when the need arises.

Peter
 
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