let us have one last war. let us have a war between all of those who think war makes sense sometimes and those who think it never does. let us have one final battle on the field of
har megiddo. let all those who think that war works, that war achieves anything, that war has a value... let those who think
that line up on the eastern side of the open plain. and let those who think that war is hell, that war is an abomination, that war has no use what ever... let those line up on the western side.
to the east will be those who think that war is part of man and man a part of war. they will be the ones who encourage their sons to enlist for the experience, "to make a man out of them!" they will be the ones who say "twas ever thus!" and "the memory of man runneth not to the contrary!" those to the east will choke up when they see a chest proudly swollen and emblazoned with ribbons and medals of their service. those to the east will shed a tear for the sacrifice of their soldiers, and stiffen in salute to their nation's flag.
to the west will be those who think war is a relic of a bygone time. they will be the ones who march in protest against their governments and warn their sons to stay at home. "send your own sons!" they will say to their representatives. they will be the ones who say that man has evolved beyond the need to shed blood for political gain, that war has been made obsolete by technology. those to the east will honor their soldiers too but wish for them a swift return to their lives at home. those to the west will stiffen in their salute to their flags as well but whisper the silent prayer that their government has the wisdom to seek wise and non-violent solutions.
let there be just one last war between the east and the west on the plain of har megiddo. let them that wish for war and them that wish to end war forever meet on that plain.
and how will it end you may wonder. i don't wonder. i know how that battle would end. though i wouldn't want to watch it. i know. for it is a simple fact that of all of the men and women who have had any real experience in war... all of the soldiers who have fought and killed and seen their brothers wounded and dead... all of them would be aligned with those on the western side.
and only those who stayed safely home... those who've never seen the smoke and the blood and the horror of war... those are the only men and women who believe that war has any value. all of those who speak in favor of war from the safety of their homes... all of those with no real experience at warfare would be aligned with those on the eastern side.
so, you see, i have no doubt which side would win this last and final war. it would be those with experience on their side.