Two big news stories have been the focus of world attention recently. One is the war on Iraq, and the other the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The US-Iraq war will lead to the deaths of soldiers on both sides of the conflict, and some infected people may die from SARS. Both pose a serious threat to human life. But deaths in the US-Iraq war are caused by man, while SARS does not discriminate between friend or foe, government official or civilian. We all have to work together to avoid both these things.
The media are mobilizing all resources in reporting the threat SARS poses to Taiwan, and both central and local governments are adopting response measures, all the while being blamed for acting too slow or not doing enough. We can all sense the danger, and people are becoming more aware of the need to wash their hands regularly. They are also using masks, especially in airports and hospitals. Other countries are also doing their utmost to prevent the spread of SARS. So long as a government cares for the lives and safety of its people, it will do all it can to prevent SARS. Since we all are afraid of dying, and because human life is valuable, it must not be lightly sacrificed.
In contrast, if we look at the US-Iraq war, the deaths of soldiers or civilians are considered something to be expected, showing that life has become a matter of straightforward number-crunching. The two warring parties both want to destroy the enemy and annihilate its army, hoping to exact the greatest possible number of casualties to ensure victory. Often, if the enemy is not killed on the battlefield, they can fight another day and kill. Killing becomes the goal.
War is certain to produce casualties, and parties to a war are prepared to sacrifice hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of their own people. Different tactics or strategies will lead to different death tolls and have different effects. The leaders in a war have to make decisions that will have an impact on the number of casualties. This is the moment when human life turns into numbers, and becomes part of the cost of war. On the battlefield, a human life is sacrificed as lightly as that of an ant or a cockroach invading a desktop.
The lives of civilians receive no guarantee of protection during a war either. Bomb explosions will unavoidably also kill civilians. The inevitability of this makes it clear that the everyone involved, from the commander in chief to the bomber who releases the ordinance do not value the lives of the citizens on the ground. They are even willing to accept death by friendly fire, so it is quite obvious they don't care if civilians are killed. Many civilians are killed or wounded as a result. War also leaves some areas without water and electricity and even without provisions and medication. Many people, especially children, will therefore die of disease or starvation. War will not only kill a lot of soldiers, but even more and innocent civilians will be affected, their lives hanging by a thread, living in hunger, thirst and fear.
War also brings hatred and a wish for angry revenge. The normal reaction when loved ones are killed by the enemy is anger and sorrow and to blame the enemy and those who started the war. If the enemy is an invader the victims's family and friends feel that their country has been violated and their hatred will be even deeper and thoughts of revenge will burn in their minds. If their army is too weak to efficiently strike back at the enemy, they may resort to a suicide attack because one victim can be sacrificed in exchange for the deaths of many enemy soldiers. There have already been reports of Iraqi suicide bombers attacking American soldiers.
People who have been given help and love normally react by helping others in return. People who have been hurt react with anger and, as far as possible, revenge on those responsible. Hatred does not bring peace, but often only leads to damage and destruction. The Sept. 11 incident hurt the US and the American people, and their anger and sorrow is understandable. The US attack on Iraq is not acceptable to a majority of nations, and most Iraqis probably see the US as an invader in a war bringing large numbers of military and civilian casualties. Given such a situation, Iraqis are certain to be filled with hatred, and we needn't worry that there will be a lack of people willing to carry out terrorist attacks.
In war, human life is lightly discarded by other humans, and no further thought is given to sorrow and pain. In peaceful and advanced nations, SARS may not necessarily kill those infected, but governments and their peoples are doing their utmost to mobilize all resources and manpower to prevent its spread. In comparison with war, life is highly valued in the former case. For the happiness of mankind, every attempt should be made to avoid war. War will normally only bring hatred, and hatred produces more war.
Shen Mei-chen is a lawyer.
Translated by Perry Svensson
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