Nation and Military #2 | The Extraterrestrial
In war it is the nations which fight but the common people who suffer. Ordinary men and women have to face the loss of life and property and immense hardship because their nation got involved in a war, not because of any personal fault of theirs. And yet, rather irrationally, the people do not leave the identity that brought ruin to them. Rather, they rally behind their nation, contribute to the war effort, and blame the enemy for their problems.
The difference between a soldier and murderer is the cause for which they kill; the former is considered justified and the latter condemned by society. Serving one’s nation is considered a noble cause by some, but it may entail cutting someone else’s life short, denying them the basic right to live. The means justify the end — and if one’s patriotism requires homicide, then that patriotism loses its moral ground.
Many nations impose some sort of compulsory military service on their people. Now some people are willing to go to war for their nation, and some are not, as well. A nation has no business drafting people, since everyone does not want to risk their life for its interests. Sacrificing oneself is one matter; being sacrificed by the nation is quite another. Human life must not be reduced to a service of the nation.
Most of the world has accepted that war is an undesirable necessity, and that sometimes it is not only justified but required. But there is truly no need for humans to be at war with themselves. All the destruction, all the suffering, all the loss that humans wreak on each other can be prevented if the world stood united together.
If one were freed of all their nationalistic passions, one would look at international conflict and wonder: What has happened to these people? How have they become willing to kill people they have never met? To make enemies of people they have nothing against personally? This is also one side of nationalism and it is time humanity understood the futility of it all.
Originally published at https://www.theextraterrestrial.blog on June 15, 2021.
