War has terrible consequences, but that doesn't make it
evil. Everything has a good side. Without a contrary good there can be no bad, everything is a battle of balances.
War is a natural part of the
human experience, whether it be a large war, or the kind of
turf war you get involved in with your neighbor over the
tree that hangs over the fence. There are levels of
brutality to be sure, but conflict is important for the
natural order. Without conflict
evolution is nearly immpossible.
So, enough of the wishy-washy
philosophy. War has benefits, real tangible benefits.
- a dramatic increase in technology always accompanies warfare.
- after a short period of recuperation, the economy of both sides of a conflict eventually picks up for some, extended, period of time after conflict.
- a reduction in the population, while initially bad helps ease population pressures, especially in the last two to three hundred years.
- national pride is increased for both the victors and the conqured.
Of course, all of these things can be bad as well. Anything taken to extremes can be a force for ill. Like I said
balance is key. I know some of these things seem harsh and cold, but
I believe them to be true.
It is very popular these days for people to talk about how we should all just get along, that
peace is best and that war is never nessasary. Unfortunately, with our population increasing so fast globally, space is quickly becoming a premium and war is more likely now than ever.
Life is not
idyllic, and there comes a time when you have to face up to reality and understand that occiasionally bad things are needed to have good things.