“The War” Should Be Required Viewing

I’ve never paid much attention to World War II. Vietnam was the defining war of my generation. But over the last two weeks I decided to broaden my education by viewing Ken Burns’ documentary The War on PBS. My life will never be the same.

No longer am I a pacifist who believes that diplomacy is the answer to all human conflict. Hitler was a madman, and the Japanese, at that time, were real enemies who would let nothing or no one hinder their plans to dominate Eastern Asia. Pearl Harbor was just in the way.

For me the deeper lesson behind this film was that war should be a last resort. The exact number of casualties from World War II will never be known. In addition to those reported were those who were not reported because their whole families were killed or their entire communities were destroyed, the surviving families who mourned lost loved ones, and participants who suffered from mental anguish in silence until their death. The human cost of war cannot be counted.

And war is not always the result of evil intent on the part of those who start it. Desperation over unmet needs or exploitation by others, and callous indifference to the effects of both can lead to aggression by the downtrodden. We should not fake surprise when these conditions lead to broader conflict.

Compassionate communication with those who are different from us can lead to understanding and cooperation around the world. Diplomacy and concern can ease tensions among even the fiercest foes. Though I am not naive enough to believe that diplomacy can prevent all wars, preventing even one is worth the effort.

The War should be required viewing around the world. Those who immerse themselves in its details of human suffering cannot leave this work unchanged. My hope only hope is that the change will lead to fewer wars.