Modern War and Civil Society

When Pandora opened the box, all kinds of disease, war and chaos burst out of the box. There is only one thing left, namely hope. Another myth is the story of Prometheus who stole fire from the gods and brought violence and destruction upon the earth. In fact, the fire should be able to bring love and warmth. Myth is not always synonymous with superstition. Both of these myths have passed through various ages and still reveal the truth in actual conditions, especially war.

The horrors and crimes of war have increased tremendously due to the increase in high-tech weapons. In World War I, of the 10 million people killed, 5% were civilians. Meanwhile, in World War II, 50 million people were killed, 48% were civilians. In the Korean War, of the 9 million people killed, 84% were civilians. Therefore, it can be said that "modern" wars are targeting the military less and more and more against civilians. We are still waiting for the exact number of civilian casualties in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In particular, World War I (1914-1918) marked a new era of modern warfare. For the first time civilian settlements were subjected to aerial bombardment, the deployment of concentration camps and the use of civilian personnel to support war infrastructure.

Civil society is in the midst of four major power sectors, namely nationalistic ideology, state-funded military, global media and international institutions. Each sector builds the identity of civil society in relation to the military. The ambiguous situation of civil society puts them in a lethal situation when dealing with armed conflict. They can become targets of dehumanization by the military, either because of armed contact or due to the loss of access to life support facilities (electricity, water, education, and others).

I don't know why someone has to die to keep others alive. The story of Cain and Abel appearing in the early part of the Book of Genesis may provide the answer. Cain killed Abel, but he survived because of his brother's blood. Likewise, a Christian is saved by what he rejects, namely the Cross. The more a person rejects war within himself, he begins to project that war outside himself. Will we continue to be trapped in despair? May the dear reader be able to find where that hope is.