Couldn’t agree more. It probably never happened - not even for a moment - that all nations felt love and respect for each other. But that doesn’t mean we have to be killing each other. We can, hopefully, live and let live. We can cooperate, trade when it’s mutually beneficial - and if along the way we develop friendships - that’s even better.
We are living in a period that is a throwback to much earlier times. By 1618 many European countries were at war against each other - which continued for about 30 years. Millions of people died - most of them not by the sword, but due to diseases, exposure, hunger. Cannibalism was commonplace. By the time the war was over, the population of Central Europe was cut almost in half.
Nominally, it was a religious war, between Catholics and Protestants. But in the center of events, there were 2 French politicians, Cardinal Richelieu - and his friend, Father Joseph, a uniquely talented person, also known as the Gray Eminence. Together, they saw their task as establishing and preserving the French dominance over Europe. While being Catholics, from time to time - if Catholics were winning - they supported the Protestants. Their true purpose was French Hegemony.
They succeeded - France remained the dominant nation for the next 200 years. In due course, they were displaced by others.
Was it worth 30 years of brutal bloodshed? Imo, no more than it would be worth for us to have a nuclear war.
At least, back in those days wars used to be winnable. |
