What war are you fighting?
It was the French revolution that ushered rapid advancement in the science of war and transformed it. European nations started to capitalize on these innovations - they waged wars and spread their might far and wide by subjugating nations. They believed war is won only by breaking an enemy’s morale and their will to resist. War was now categorised by the use of superior technology in warfare, where battles were won on the dint of shock and awe. Where the consequence was the brutal killing of numerous innocents, destruction of land, disturbance of mental and psychological health, the decline in the productivity of crops, displacement of residents, and disruption in the economic development of nations.
And through the years countries have signed treaties with the objective of permanent resolution between warring parties. Unfortunately, despite the best of intentions and investment of significant resources, those treaties have barely ever lead to consolidated peace. Mankind continues to resort to violence and mass destruction. However are wars like the Kivu conflict, the Libyan Crisis or the Mali War the only types of war the human race is fighting?
More often than not, individuals tend to overlook the wars that are fought in the daily grind of life. Those being the ones where we replace love and compassion with malice and resentment, and serenity, empathy and honesty with violence, cruelty, and corruption. Those wars where jealousy consumes our mind and controls it with a force so overwhelming – capable of irreparable damage to others. Those times when we are ready to see someone sink just to experience mere gain.
Look at the most recent war that we are battling – Covid-19. ¬¬Hasn’t coronavirus triggered the fiercest war? Just as wars cause insurmountable suffering, this human virus too has wreaked tremendous havoc. Here instead of shootings and bombs, death is caused by transmission. But the common psychological impact remains the same for both – suicide, depression, anxiety and fear. According to the WHO, the second leading cause of death in the aftermath of the pandemic is suicide. Furthermore, in January 2021, 41% of adults reported symptoms of depression and anxiety.
So in conclusion, wars can be fought through cannons and AK-47s, drones, pandemics, and even one’s own mind. So when it comes to the reparations of war treaties aren’t enough, it’s mandatory to take out time for introspection and self-healing. Because war isn’t just of bloodshed, but of the battle of the mind as well.