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WAR - AGAINST HUMAN NATURE
Marian Baltazar
Class of 1980, University of the Philippines College of Manila
AB Political Science
War is definitely against human nature. People do not want to wage war against each other for it is not one’s
nature to do so. All human beings would want to live in peace and harmony with one another. People do not
just flare up spontaneously, but sometimes it is deliberately started by the governments by means of
propaganda and brainwashing. Even the soldiers at war don’t want to kill other people because it is against
their nature. The ones who really perform the killing during the war are those crazed individuals.
Of course when people try to attack you, your natural reaction would be to fight back. In fact, no one wants to
attack anybody, especially when there is no reason at all to do this. The governments are the ones attacking
other governments and they are actually using the people. There are a lot of times and instances when war
become necessary. When people try and suppress another person’s way of life or when people try to
exterminate a group of people, then these are the times when war should be fought.
If we try to take a look at the countries that have waged war with other countries, we would figure out that the
United States has been the most successful in war. Then it is consequential to say that the United States has
very powerful militia and armaments. Take for example during the Cold War era, the United States feared the
spread of communism and that only means that they have to protect their interests. What more at the end of
the 19
th
century and at the beginning of the 20
th
century, when the US carried on several military interventions
in what became known as the “Banana Wars.” They are guarding their interest on the intervention and
preservation of their commercial interests.
I think every country would always guard and work to the best of their interest and this is the sole reason why
they wage war on other countries. Not until they are assured of safeguarding their perimeters would they be at
peace with their neighboring countries. Like the United States, we would always like to have good relations
with the people and the countries that surround us. I also think that when one imposes their will on others,
then most likely, there will be discrepancies and an outbreak, as an outcome of the said action. Apparently, I
think everyone will agree to what Hull once said,“ No country has the right to intervene in the internal or
external affairs of another.”
Who wants to be involved with war anyway? All human beings want to live peacefully here on earth and so we
can say that war is against our human nature, after all we wanted were just to have everything here on earth to
end well.
Questions for discussion:
1.
Is war the last option for people to iron out their differences? Explain your answer.
2.
Would you agree that war is against the human nature? Why or why not?
3.
Do you think imposing one’s will can create chaos in your environment and dealings with other people?
Justify your answer.
4.
How would you face people who are always violent? Do you think they have that tendency to wage war
with others too?
5.
Do you agree that war makes people and nations feel indifferent with one another? Explain your answer.