The Best Way To Eliminate All Wars
Did it ever occur to you that all wars are totally useless events? First and foremost there are the lives that are lost. Secondly there are buildings, homes properties, and personal possessions that are destroyed. There is nature that is defiled. Finally the costs in terms of dollars and cents for guns, planes, ships, and the ammunition expended. Billions and Billions. Even trillions and trillions. For what! For the sake of winning, and only for sowing of the seeds for the next war which will extract the revenge well seeded in the loser’s heart.
The world has been trying to recognize the problem of wars. We even have an organization that embraces the idea that before a war erupts, or after it happens a heated drawn out debate takes place as to what to do to prevent it, or cease it to stop. Regional organizations intercede and try to mediate between the warring parties. Others actually take sides and support one side or the other for the sake of bringing order to the fore. They all seem to fail, or if they don’t fail they are late and the destruction that takes place cannot be undone.
I have the solution which I hope will be honored by the nations of the world.
The only ones I pity are the present manufacturers of arms who will be obliged to lose a lot of money. Or the present day generals and admirals who will no longer be able to play their favorite game which they have been so aptly trained for. Nor all the defense ministers who supervise and manage vast departments with astronomical expenditures. Nor the very leaders of nations who have the power to declare wars. If we want to eliminate wars forever then my plan should be adopted by all the nations of the world and all humanity.
It starts with recognizing that the ones who are most sacrificed in wars are our youngest. Since they are very young they are willing to take chances and gamble that their heroics will pay off. It isn’t that they are just willing to die for a cause they have been indoctrinated with, or for their patriotism. Nor for the human altruistic instinct to sacrifice oneself for the sake of preserving the tribe. It is all of the above and one more concept. They do not have the fear of death yet having lived short lives and not having witnessed the killing fields and the men, women and children to appease the gods of war.
My solution is simple, but will be highly effective, and will be the only solution to eliminate the game of war. All Armies, Navies and Air Forces will representing every country in our world agree to recruit their combatant personnel with a prerequisite rule that those who wish to serve in those armed forces have the requirement of being over seventy years of age.
Now all of us know that anyone blessed to having survived this life for seventy years has done something right to have arrived at that time in one piece, and with a sane mind. They are a class of humans who are not prone to engaging in frivolous activities that might shorten their mortality. They seek peacefulness, tranquility, and with a spirit of let others be in peace as well. Why would they want to give up their monthly retirement payments. Their pleasurable vactations. They would distain to engaging in battles and the killing of innocent humans like themselves. They have learned to prevent abrupt actions that could endanger even an innocent animal let alone another human like themselves. They are ready to find a common ground in any dispute since engaging in pugilistic encounters might force them to return to their dentists for implants or surgeons for new jaws, hips or knees. They have learned to detest hospitals or even doctors which might indicate a malady that would debilitate them, and take them away from the tranquility that they have gained by their age and stature. Wars would cease. Battles would be prevented. Lives would be saved and there would be no more rehabilitation for wounded warriors suffering from the after effects of not only amputations but of the symptoms and scars of battle fatigue that strips the mind of its protection against insanity. If, and god forbid, there was a battle between two armies where the minimum age to be involved would be seventy plus it would probably be a very mild action, and one where both sides already tired from too much activity that day would be inclined to say “Lets not fight over this. Let’s sit down have a cup of coffer or tea and talk it over”. Then all wars would cease. All bloodshed would be countered, and man would learn to live with his fellow man in peace. No more wars. Let’s staff our armed forces with septuagenarians and for sure peace will prevail.
