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The Purpose of War and Its Effects

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The Purpose of War and Its Effects Time and time again, Americans are told how necessary and essential war is by their government. While Americans sacrifice their lives for the United States, so are citizens of other countries. But, also individuals are telling everyone how inhumane war. The fact of the matter is war always seems to be a repeating factor in life. Whether people try to justify war or not, there are many reasons and circumstance that are ignored and hidden. War could be defined as a nation’s means for protection. Many could probably say war is a nations way of showing off, but clearly everyone has their own opinion. Protection is also a very broad way of describing a reason to go to war. Protection from what exactly is the question to ask. Protection is rarely the substantial reason as to why a nation is going to war. In many cases though, countries do need protection and can not sustain by themselves. Case and point to the previous argument would be, the Invasion of Panama. A topic, dealing with war, which is very taboo, is how the soldier is affected. Many have mentioned the topic of the soldiers’ state of mind, but who is actually listening? The government is supposed to care, but war seems to be a constant. Soldiers are supposed to be studied and evaluated, but ultimately, soldiers are not truly cared for. That fact that soldiers are sent over to a foreign land, to kill someone, should be a red flag to any official that the human psyche will be affected. The purpose of war does not include the costs of war. The American soldier can see decade’s worth of traumatic situations in only four years! In civilians’ eyes, soldiers are the people’s heroes, but what about the government? Are soldiers just pawns in a game of ‘powers’? The government does not provide enough care and attention to soldiers who were recently deployed and in action. “He was slim, dead, almost dainty… with one leg bent beneath him… jaw in his throat… one eye shut… other was a star-shaped hole.” (O’Brien, 130) A soldier that just killed someone was clearly going through something tragic, going through his first kill. O’Brien could not even talk after committing this act. Killing is apart of war, right? The fact is no soldier is going to kill and not need a psychological evaluation. Every soldier will experience the pain of doing something devastating during war. An example of a soldier clinging on to a memory that will never leave him can come from Tim O’Brien himself. “Even now I haven’t finished sorting it out. Sometimes I forgive myself, other times I don’t.” (O’Brien, 134)
Although many say war is despicable and unnecessary, others would argue that war is the key to world peace. World peace is what everyone dreams of and what beauty queens hope for. But ultimately, what evidence does war have of ensuring world peace? One example would be the Geneva Conventions. The most popular of the Conventions, would be the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Geneva Conventions are basically wars “code of conduct.” The Geneva Conventions ensure that prisoners of war are not mistreated, or inhumanely, protected hospital (or any medically situated area), protected civilians that might come in contact with the war, and gave the Red Cross power to serve medically across the globe. The Geneva Convention has been the closest, with evidence, to world peace and agreement that many countries have agreed on. World Domination is a definite when discussing the purpose of war. World domination is what every President, leader and dictator dreams of. Many citizens may think that goal is excessive and may be right. What actually comes along with world domination? One benefit would be being able to be a powerful force in the world. With having dominating power, no one will want a full war with. Domination means you could thoroughly ruin other countries at the drop of the dime and being very, very feared. In conclusion, war will never be over. The importance of war in a nation’ culture and survival has become imminent. War will always be a how one country conquers another. War can be used in order to get your way or have some kind of command in something that is not your business. War is a vindictive way of being in control and judging. Whether people try to justify war or not, there are many reasons and circumstance that are ignored and hidden.

Citations
Isserman, Maurice. America At War: World War II. New York: Facts On File, 1995. 184. Print.

O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. New York: First Broadway Books, 1998. 246. Print.

O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. New York: First Broadway Books, 1998. 246. Print.

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