War & Power: A History of Repetition

Do you remember the first time you heard about war? As a young boy growing up in America, I remember being taught in school about World War II and how America and England were the champions of world peace. The sad part is that we all believed the lies and misinformation that was fed to us, encouraging hatred and racist beliefs about people we knew nothing about. In the 1970s, I was attending high school when war became real for me and my friends. We were at an age where the government could force you to join the military to fight whether you wanted to or not. If anyone decided not to join, they would be jailed. It was a time that we all feared being drafted. During that time, I lost many friends who died fighting in Vietnam. The saddest part is never having an opportunity to see them again or to say good-bye.

In 1967, Mohammad Ali was drafted and ordered join the fight in Vietnam. He refused to go to war. He was subsequently convicted of draft evasion and stripped of his heavyweight title. His refusal to serve was rooted in his opposition to the Vietnam War and his status as a conscientious objector. Ali's response to the government made everyone stand up and pay attention. He said, "Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?" He added, "Man, I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet Cong ever called me nigger. "I'm not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over." On June 20, 1967, Ali was convicted of draft evasion, sentenced to five years in prison, fined $10,000 and banned from boxing for three years.

War is often presented as a tragic necessity, an unfortunate but unavoidable response to threats or injustice. Leaders call for sacrifice. Citizens answer the call. Yet behind every fallen soldier and broken city, a familiar truth emerges: history repeats itself. From ancient empires to modern superpowers, war has always been a theatre of power and profit. So why do we keep fighting? And who truly benefit from war, the people or the powerful?

Year after year, there is more destruction happening around the world. So many young men and women are sent to their deaths, most, not knowing what or why they are fighting and wondering if it will make any difference at all. From my observation, bias or not, war seems to be power that world leaders enjoy. When various governments decide to destroy other countries, they usually never think about the innocent people they are murdering. For them, it seems like a game of chess or monopoly to control others. 

So, what are the justifications for war? If you asked any leader in the world, especially those who are vicious or narcissistic, they would probably list these reasons to validate their actions:

·       Defence of their homeland and protection of their people

·       Liberation or moral duty (e.g., stopping genocide, spreading democracy)

·       Revenge or retaliation

·       Economic or territorial expansion (often hidden under the above)

·       War can be morally justifiable under specific conditions

Lately, I think about the people who benefit from launching war and chaos upon other countries. It's certain that the average person never thinks about creating war on others, they just want to go to work or school, take care of their families, and enjoy life to the fullest.

However, political leaders from all parties will take actions in the hope of increasing their approval ratings, building national unity, and distracting people from all the domestic issues that are not being addressed. Defence industries, arms manufacturers, and private military contractors all benefit from the profits of war. Often, religious or ideological movements may benefit from the destruction of war, too. 

In times of war, civilians, particularly women and children, bear the brunt of suffering. While soldiers experience combat-related trauma and casualties, civilians are often directly targeted, lose their homes, arms, legs, and livelihoods, and experience displacement, starvation, and violence. In most American cities many of the homeless people living on the streets are U.S. veterans. Displaced populations and refugees face lots of suffering when it's impossible for them to be housed in other countries. The impact on women and children is quite severe, with women facing increased risk of sexual violence and exploitation, and children suffering trauma, mental health issues, and loss of education and family. As quiet as it's kept, the economy, infrastructure, and future generations will be heavily affected.

We are all familiar with the saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana was a Spanish-American philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist educated in the United States. Essentially, it argues that failing to learn from the past can lead to repeating the same errors, potentially resulting in similar negative consequences.As a lover of history, discovering the truth over the years brings me satisfaction. It helps me to identify patterns and lessons learned from past historical failures, allowing us to make more informed decisions to avoid repeating the same mistakes. It also provides insights into the main causes and consequences of event, helping us to understand how our actions and decisions can lead to certain outcomes. Exploring factual events and their results can strengthen critical thinking skills, allowing us to evaluate different perspectives and make more informed judgments. History has a way of exposing us to different cultures, societies, and perspectives, broadening our view of the world and promoting empathy.

My hopes and dreams have always been to live in a peaceful world without racism, discrimination, homophobia, sexism, or physical/sexual violence. After fighting to survive most of my life, my vision for a better place has darkened. As I walk around doing errands or shopping and observing others with a non-judgmental lens, I believe that nothing will improve or change during my lifetime. Still, I continue to hope for more kindness and love.

If war is the language of the powerful, then peace must be the voice of the people. As long as leaders gain and the masses suffer, the cycle of conflict will continue. But we are not powerless. Understanding the true cost and purpose of war allows us to challenge it, not just with protests or policies, but with perspective. Until we stop glorifying war and start honouring peace, history will keep repeating itself. The question isn’t whether war is needed. The real question is: why do we keep needing it at all?