Farewell to arms

Inscribed in the walls of the United Nations Organization building is God's Judgment between many people….. "They shall beat swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning forks; nations shall not lift up swords against nations; neither they learn wars anymore". (MICAH 4:3)

War is one of the oldest and most destructive inventions by man against humanity. History taught us numerous lessons testifying to the horrors of wars since time immemorial. War, presage the happening of pestilences, epidemic famine and other natural catastrophes causing and ending all the more in reduced global population.

Then and now, wars are fought in the name of religion, racial and ideological supremacy or simply, greedy ambitions to reshape or enlarge their dominions through aggression. Elsewhere in world history, combatants end up in pyrrhic victories, the unnecessary carnage bringing useless annihilations to both sides.

When in the course of human events could we even learn to outlaw or renounce war as testaments of peace? Many peace overtures through collective agreements, treaties; regional and continental leagues and even the UNO seemed to have failed in their mission towards an enduring peace.

The 20th Century surpassed all ages in the art of destruction, since Greece and Rome, England and Spain began exporting wars in Asia and Africa. Peace started to elude both poor and small nations. When America joined 1st & 2nd World War to preserve democracy, to ensure political and economic interests, they too began exporting long expensive and destructive wars abroad in Continental Europe, in Korea, Vietnam and in oil-rich Arab Emirates and diamond-rich colonies in Africa.

Remote and immediate causes of wars: Recent causes of war have become far more perverted, extremely provocative and deadlier. These are: imperialism, aggression, interventions, expansionism, deliberate or willful violation of sovereignties and disregard to the charter of United Nation Organization; nationalistic dispute over territories, failure of diplomacy, secret alliances, international distrust, anarchy and racial discriminations.

JINGOISM:  Unrestrained military, naval and airpower built up by industrial nations against international limitations and conventions sent warning signals what armament and rearmament are all about. These threats of insecurity made poor and lesser nations quivering and cowering in fear, hence, distrusts and fears drove them to enter into secret alliances.

Economic, sectarian and political adventurisms brought wars in disputed territories around the world including our own ongoing stalemates with China, Israel-Palestinian and elsewhere in West Africa. China as an emerging superpower should initiate a UN Resolution for a comprehensive Condominium Treaty to be sponsored by United States and Russia towards joint equitable and advisory control over the affairs of countries claiming said disputed territories in and around China Sea.

The apocalyptic happening of a 3rd Global War could be the last war to end the arm race and eventual extinction of the humankind.  The criminal and indiscriminate employment of germs, chemical and nuclear weapons of mass destruction will trigger a total thermodynamic wars of push-buttons. Will this lead to ultimate road towards a lasting universal peace? By then our planet is without earthlings.

Meanwhile, widespread killings and call to arms continue and remain unabated ,in war & peace, throughout the civilized societies and even in holy places.

Jesus "Jess Labrador

Anahaw, Barangay Buhisan, Cebu City