The irony of wars

THE EDITOR, Sir:

When one considers the many unnamed soldiers and civilians killed and buried in the ash heap of history since the Ukraine invasion, the purpose of war itself becomes self destructive.

The ultimate goal of war - which is often peace, security and harmonious coexistence between nations and people - is murdered by its own pursuit.

It is this kind of irony that warps morality and justifies the most egregious butchering on all sides.

Opposing camps will justify wide-scale slaughtering of the innocent and lawful civilians, in order to restore peace and comfort .

If a man invades your home, it is just to defend your lawful possession, or to seek redress from the law. But generally, wars are not about justice, decency and civilised bonding. They are about an overdose of imbecility - a grinning-teeth madness that vows to complete a desired outcome, however great the casualties.

Wars make the concepts of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ interchangeable, as expedience supersedes all normal sense of right and wrong.Thus, shouting ‘foul!’ or ‘unfair!’ in wars is like two thieves having a dispute among themselves about their spoils. No better herring, no better barrel.

The great sadness about wars is that adults initiate them, but (they are) like sick teenagers who only appreciate the immediate feeling of glee and are driven thereby, without any interest in the larger consequences.

HOMER SYLVESTER