Do you know the song ‘Battlefield’ by Jordin Sparks? She constantly asks why love constantly feels like a battlefield. Well, if I had any ideas, I’ll definitely drop a song! Love is a complex emotion that can sometimes be difficult to understand. But in the midst of war, love can sometimes thrive. This is because war often brings people together in ways that they never would have experienced otherwise.
War stories
Ukraine and Russia are locked in a ranging war. As the world hopes for peace, love can win even in the battlefield.
One of the most famous war-time love stories is that of Romeo and Juliet. In the midst of all the violence and hatred, these two young lovers found each other and their love flourished. Even though their love ultimately ended in tragedy, it still shows that war can sometimes bring people together in surprising ways.
Another example of war-time love is that of Penelope and Odysseus from Homer’s Odyssey. After enduring twenty years of war, these two finally reunite and their love is stronger than ever. This goes to show that war can test the strength of a relationship, but if the love is strong enough, it can survive anything.
War leads to loss
During the First World War, millions of people, both military and civilians died. Families separated, lovers spent days apart, and in some instances; never again. There’s a reason why people are cautioned against the price of war. It’s massive and consequential.
War does not determine who is right – only who is left.
Bertrand Russell
Effects of War
The physical effects of war are obvious. People are killed or maimed, homes and families destroyed. But war also leaves psychological scars. As Ernest Hemingway so accurately said: “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”
Psychological effects can include:
PTSD
Refers to a condition that may develop after someone has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as war. In the US alone, a high of 500,000 military veterans who served in wars over the last decades are diagnosed with PTSD. It’s an astronomical figure since it translates to increased healthcare costs, lost income and a general inability for self-sufficiency.
Anxiety
People who have been affected by war often experience anxiety and fear. This is because they have seen firsthand the destruction that war can cause. Take a moment and imagine the bombs we see in movies exploding in your face. I shudder at the thought of the grim realities of the battlefield. Ironically, it’s mostly human beings killing one another. For what?
Depression
War can also lead to depression, due to the loss of loved ones, the destruction of homes, and the overall feeling of hopelessness. Unless you’re a sadist or simply a cold-blooded beast, there shouldn’t be any pleasure in taking a human life. Coupled with the property loss and communal breakdown due to war, this sets a foundation for depression for both the servicemen and the victims.
Substance abuse
Many people who have been affected by war turn to drugs or alcohol in order to numb the pain. Abuse of drugs causes other negative effects such as job loss, financial instability, and health problems. It’s a vicious cycle that’s often difficult to break out of.
War is not the answer
Despite all the negative effects of war, some people still believe that it is necessary. They argue that war is sometimes the only way to achieve peace. But as Mahatma Gandhi once said: “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” War does not solve problems; it only creates more hatred and destruction. If we want to achieve peace in the world, we need to find other ways to resolve our differences. Love, not war, is the answer.
What war cannot kill, only love can heal.
Only love can turn an enemy into a friend.
Love is the ultimate weapon against war.
So let us choose love, no matter how hard it may be.
Only love can save us from the cycle of war and destruction.
Find Love in the Oasis of Peace
Pictures coming from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War are devastating. Women and children are forced to walk miles and miles in search of shelter while men are forced to fight out like savages.
It doesn’t matter who wins the war. In a real sense, peace is always an option but the warring parties choose otherwise. I would rather you find love in the oasis of peace rather than in the temporary shelter of love on the battlefield. For what joy is there to find love while constantly fighting to stay alive? Can such love be enjoyable? I don’t know. However, I trust in the mystery of love to overcome even the cruelest of situations.
Love…not War
Despite all the negative effects that war can have, love can still sometimes thrive in these difficult conditions. This is because war often brings people together in ways that they never would have experienced otherwise. So, even though war is a terrible thing, it can sometimes lead to unexpected and beautiful outcomes. If possible, let’s all commit to shunning wars. No one really wins; only better losers.
