The Power of War

The Power of War War has been around since the beginning of time; people would always fight one another for land, money, or freedom. It has always been around and always will. With war comes meaning, sacrifice, dedication, hope, and devastation. War is one thing that is inevitable in the history of mankind; it is what draws people together and pulls them apart. Going into battle can be addicting since it causes adrenaline rushes and excitement for having meaning in someone's life. While it can cause powerful and beneficial meaning in someone's life, it can also cause devastation and distress like in the lives of the Lost Boys in God Grew Tired of Us. In Chris Hedge's “War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning”, he states war causes different results such as the ability to kill without feeling regret, gives power, and creates meaning in a person's life. When fighting on foreign land, it is easier to have a clean conscience after killing a person. Since it is overseas, it is easier for American soldiers to not get involved when necessary. Does this make them responsible for not intervening for the innocent lives of millions of people who were killed? We had the power to intervene and save lives, yet we did not. According to Hedge, war can become addicting since it gives soldiers meaning, power, and a reason to fight to stay alive. It gives soldiers hope that their life is not meaningless. With the responsibility of a gun and the ability to kill the enemy comes the feel and desire of power. The power of war "gives us resolve, [and] a cause. It allows us to be noble" (Hedge 1). Whoever you may be, every man is susceptible to the draw and appeal of war for wealth, honor, power, excitement, and more. War is interlocked with the fate of mankind; therefore it has become a culture of its own with the ability to draw forth the evil in every man's heart (Hedge 2). It has created the want for the power to destroy and become victorious. Even with the choice not to kill the