I
always thought that this old saying was of Roman origin but apparently it is
from ancient Greece - from the
Greek poet Pindar (518BC – 438BC), to be exact. I have no knowledge of the Greek language but
have a fragmentary knowledge of Latin and Pindar’s original
Greek is the origin of the Latin proverb "Dulce bellum inexpertis"
which is translated (more or less) as, “War is sweet to those that know it
not”.
The
continuation of what Pindar wrote is; “but the experienced man trembles
exceedingly at heart on its approach.”
I believe that this
proverb is as true today as it was 2500 years ago.
In the name of God, why
start a war? Why?
It is my firm belief that human ego and
pride are the reasons. These two give rise to the widespread misconception of
“us” and “them”. Us being always better, more intelligent and culturally
advanced than them and that “our” God is better than “their” God. Therefore it
matters not how we treat such inferior beings – God is on “our” side!
It takes two to tango – as the old saying
goes. It stands to reason that differences of opinion will arise (humans being
the fickle creatures they are) therefore it will always be necessary for there
to be (to use a Churchillian phrase) more “jaw, jaw” and less “war, war”. And
“jaw, jaw” is always less costly in human life and material than “war, war” –
always.
The current standoff between the USA and
North Korea will not end without some serious negotiations and plenty of “jaw,
jaw”. A conflict is unthinkable and should not be considered. Conflicts always,
repeat always, leave a host of unintended consequences to contend with
afterwards. Imagine what would happen to the about 25 million North Koreans if
the regime was defeated in a conflict – who would govern the country? Who would
police them and restore law and order (very different from what they had known
before)? What would happen to the millions of refugees who would try to flee
the conflict? Who would feed and care for them? Who would finance and help
rebuild the country? Would South Korea have the means or the inclination to
reintegrate a heavily indoctrinated populace into a new order of events (for
North Koreans) and thereby increasing the South's population by about 50%? Would China? Would the USA?
Remember it took about eight years (or so I
believe) to reintegrate East Germany into the now unified Germany.
While I am certainly no expert on North
Korea I have a strong suspicion that the current leader may adopt the end idealized by
Hitler and invoke the “Gotterdammerung” approach, “If my Kim family cannot rule
the country anymore then no one will” – kind of thing. Remember North Korea is
a nuclear country and they have the will and the means to lay waste to the
entire country.
This sort of thing is not to be
contemplated – ever.
