From an early age, we are taught to respect others by keeping our hands to ourselves and being kind.
But tell me, how do you expect me to one day teach my children that violence isn't the answer when people who are divided by oceans and imaginary lines declare war to settle disputes?
I remember as a kid, I read a short story in school about a child's perspective of a bombing. The whole time you assume it was happening in our own country, as we are relating to the little girl who's perspective the story is told from.
They went through the process of hearing bomb alarms go off and getting to a structured place and feeling the walls rattle when the bombs go off.
As the story ended, the little girl said something along the lines of, "I can't believe the Americans are bombing us."
And it stuck with me because it taught me the pain and fear that can come with something as ugly as war.
war
1[wawr]
noun
- a conflict carried on by force of arms, as between nations or between parties within a nation; warfare, as by land, sea, or air.
- a state or period of armed hostility or active military operations: The two nations were at war with each other.
Dominance.
We declare war to prove who has the upper hand, and whoever does the most destruction wins the war.
That's what I have been brought up to think of it, so correct me if I'm wrong.
It's like the world is run by a bunch of babies who resort to violence when they don't get their way.
Anyone who has been around kids has seen the way kids argue over sharing and how they quickly resort to pushing and hitting when they do not get their way.
What is the difference when the people leading the world disagree to a point of threatening violence with bombs that could destroy our entire planet?
There is no difference.
WELL, there is a difference, but the difference is that (hopefully) these leaders are potty trained, can feed themselves, and can speak a proper sentence. And that the children are not murdering thousands or millions of people over a toy.
But other than that, what is the difference?
Children argue over things like sharing toys. Our world leaders argue over sharing the same visions for the world.
Children hit others when they don't get their way. Our leaders threaten death and destruction to innocent people when they don't get their way.
Now, I'm going to act like a child for a minute. Remember those projects we would do in elementary school where we would write our wishes for the world or what we would do if we were ever to become president?
My wish for the world is that one day, violence won't be the answer. Millions of people have died innocently. And it isn't humane.
My wish for the world would be for bombs are banned. And that there is no need to have bombs on deck for protection because no one in the world can fathom damaging our world and the people in it.
As a world, we should all be looking out for the well being of our planet and the people on it. We get so caught up in the idea of countries when in reality, the world would be a better place if we realized we are all living in the same world and make a pact to protect the world to the best of our ability.
Don't get me wrong, I support our military and respect the people who have served our country and protected my life, but it's really sad that it's 2017 and we haven't united enough to find a better solution to run the world without violence.
There has to be a better way. Maybe one day we will figure it out, but until then, remember to be kind to others and find peace with those who think and feel differently than you.