Assignment 9: Brennan Cegelka

“The Last Good War.” How could my father agree with such a thing. The war he was referring to was World War Two. The bloodiest global conflict to date. I was shocked. I argued vigorously against him and asking how could it be a “Good War” no war is good. I insisted and pleaded with him. In this conflict, entire groups of people who were trying to exterminate another, sieges on civilians (Stalingrad) and unholy weapons of mass destruction all accumulated over a decade of gory war. How could anybody categorize this as a “good war.” Then I understood. The allied forces victory meant an end to one of the horrific authoritarian regimes humanity has ever seen. Nazi Germany. Just imagine if the allied forces had lost the war. All of Western Europe would be in the control of Germany. A terrifying alternate reality. The causes and results of this war was not shrouded or tainted by political smog and corruption that modern wars have become. But rather, this war was one for the freedom of humanity from evil. This war is not alone in its importance. The Civil War, America’s bloodiest war to this date, was necessary in the preservation of America and the abolishment of slavery.
 Unfortunately, my biggest fear is the war to come. “I know not what weapons the next war will hold, but I know the one after will be waged with sticks and stones.” The technologies of modern warfare makes me side with my father of the last good war. What if a war were to break out at this very moment between two superpowers. There would be no heroic stories of risking or saving lives. Simply civilian deaths. That is my take on war. It proved to be just at times, but now I fear there will be one last war.