The Real Cost of War
Humanity pays an infinite price for war, a tragic and devastating event. When we consider the effects of war on troops’ loved ones and the ethical dilemma of taking life, we see the true cost of war, which extends far beyond the battlefield and political agendas. Wars devastate people and communities, and the false sense of triumph that follows them must not be forgotten.
Impact on Families
If you want to understand the real pains of war, ask a soldier’s family whose loved ones die in a war they do not believe in. They live their entire in the memory of those people who died on the border for the sake of their country, which is told to them by their higher authorities. War not only takes lives; it breaks families and generations apart in no time. Every family must have asked openly or secretly why we must keep doing it for years, and it can be ended.
The Ethical Dilemma of Death
The moral quandary confronted by soldiers commanded to kill is one of the most excruciating features of combat. Soldiers, no matter the battle, are routinely charged with committing acts of violence against civilians they may not even know on a personal level. Soldiers may carry the sorrow, remorse, and psychological wounds from such deeds long after the battle. Those in service bear the ethical duty of carrying out commands, even if it means taking lives.
The Illusion of Success
War is rarely as simple as it is depicted in popular culture, with clear winners and losers. After a conflict, people realize that triumph was an illusion all along. The loss of life, the disruption of communities, and the permanent effects on civilizations more than cancel out any benefits. Restoring destroyed communities’ lives, infrastructure, and trust is expensive and can drag on for decades or centuries. The real cost of war cannot be compensated for by any amount of national medals or honors showered upon warriors.
Conclusion
Beyond the numbers and the goals, there is the human cost of war. The emotional and psychological toll that war has on families is heavy. When following instructions to kill, soldiers face difficult moral choices. The massive destruction left behind by a conflict quickly dispels any sense of victory.
Edward Aegidius, in his novel “The Sound of a Shot,” has asked those moral questions through his story of a soldier who dies during the Vietnam War, and his daughter is now in search of the real reasons behind the death of her father, as she has experienced the trauma throughout her life.