Accidentals: Ugly Enlistment

 

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

One of the more challenging concepts in war is that of service. Service to one's country is viewed as an honorable deed. It is a fruition of loyalty. However, the opposite, and completely valid, view is that of villainy.

The challenging side of war is the interpretation of its actions from the opposing perspective. A country that goes to war, say Alpha, with another, say Zeta, is not honorably viewed by the latter, Zeta. It is instead, Alpha, the villain, the one that harmed the country, their country, Zeta. The songs of Alpha's glory are only villainous gloats for Zeta's nationals.

The study of valor frames battles as acts of heroism. When one vows to serve their country, putting aside the socio-ethical interpretations of this dynamic, they commit their most precious, their life. It is undoubtedly an act of fearless sacrifice. This giving away, putting aside whether it actually is just suicide, makes them heroes. Thus, serving one's country must be the most honorable act there is, for those who serve could lose, literally, all they have! But, even then, it is hard to stomach.

If you are a foreigner whose country, say Zeta, was at war at some point of time with another, say Alpha, you are less likely to be open to the idea of honoring an Alpha veteran. This, logically, will be more pronounced the closer your generation is to when the war took place. It is completely likely that Alpha's who, veterans, and why, valor, may never be appreciated by people from Zeta. It follows then that not appreciating service of another's is not a sin, rather a plea for acknowledgment of a humanitarian perspective. The act however... that of sacrificing one's own life, is admirable to a fault.