About Bored of War
Post 1945:
War is endemic. War is ubiquitous. War is natural. War is inevitable. I know this, because I have a degree in history, I love studying the past, and I’ve been alive for a long time, time enough to see countries and tribes and religions and factions go at it since I possessed a functioning consciousness.
The reasons for war vary. Sometimes it’s ancient hatred, sometimes it’s for stuff. But… I think things might be changing. Just a little bit. Maybe. I’m getting a sense. Call it an incipient theory. A fragile hypothesis. Call it a freaking idea.
I think war is losing its appeal. That’s my sense. My hope. And though it might only be a phase, it would be nice if it was less a trend, more something permanent.
Now, war will always be loads of laughs for the people who benefit. Politicians and generals who never get near bullets or battle, or the ones who build the bombs and make all that bank. Thing is, they can’t have any of their fun without normal people.
Funny, this almost sounds like a class thing. It’s not. Commie-class-struggle-nonsense is more ridiculous, ludicrous and evil than war. I want that on the record. At least one can make an argument that war is sometimes necessary and actually benefits someone. Commie-class-struggle-nonsense has never benefited anyone, even the ones who swear by it.
Getting back to normal people. My point is, there’s too much to do. Used to be, people got some entertainment out of war or war-adjacent activity. Examples. People used to look up at the shiny knights with scary reverence, chivalric dreams dancing in their heads. They used to love hearing that their king conquered the land over there, sang songs of his noble exploits. Toy soldiers and all that.
Now, I don't know. Is it possible to sell war entertainment when so many other entertainments exist? Yeah, they’ll try, but it’s gotta be getting harder. I suspect that’ll make them try harder in response. Then they’ll come at us with the fear angle. We have to fight. By we, they always mean someone else.
No, the military isn’t bad. Being able to defend ourselves is good. It’s insulting to have to mention, but I will anyway. I like a story, and I’m just wondering if the modern war story holds up. One thing’s for sure, the ground has shifted. Whether it’s an inconsequential tremor a redrawing of the map remains to be seen. It’d be nice if someday war was only a story, man. Cheers and see you after.
