Politics and War: A Battle of Words

In international politics, adjectives elevate and dignify even the most sordid processes. Words like "epoch-making," "epic," and "historic" are thrown around like confetti as if to suggest that every decision made in the halls of power is a world-shattering event.

But when it comes to writing that aims to glorify war, a different set of words come into play. The language takes on an archaic hue as if the only way to make war seem noble is to harken back to a bygone era. We hear of "realms" and "thrones" of "mailed fists" and "tridents." The words "sword" and "shield" may seem innocuous enough, but when paired with "buckler," "banner," and "jackboot," they create a tableau of violence that is hard to ignore.

We must rely on this archaic language to make war seem heroic. It could be because war is, in reality, anything but heroic. The realities of war are messy, brutal, and devastating. We prefer to ignore these realities and instead focus on the imagery of noble knights charging into battle, of brave soldiers defending their homeland with unwavering determination.

And yet, even this archaic language can't completely mask the horrors of war. We may talk of "triumphant" victories and "unforgettable" battles. Still, we can't escape that war inevitably leads to death and destruction. Even the most "inevitable" and "inexorable" conflicts are ultimately human tragedies, with real people on both sides of the divide.

So why do we continue to use this language? It may be because we are afraid to confront the realities of war. Using words like "triumphant" and "inevitable," we can convince ourselves that war is a necessary evil, a noble sacrifice for the greater good. But in reality, there is nothing noble about war. It is a human failure, a testament to our inability to resolve our differences peacefully.

It's time for us to change the way we talk about war. Instead of relying on archaic language and grandiose adjectives, we need to confront the realities of conflict head-on. We need to acknowledge the human cost of war, to recognize the toll it takes on individuals, families, and entire communities. And we need to work tirelessly to find peaceful solutions to our differences to move beyond the language of war and into a brighter, more hopeful future.