The Abomination of War

War is often viewed as an inevitable aspect of human existence, an intrinsic even necessary part of human nature - a dark shadow that stalks our species throughout history. Yet, when we peel back the layers of this myth, we uncover an abomination that transcends mere brutality and conflict. It encapsulates a profound moral failing. War is a reflection of our deepest fears, our basest instincts, and our utter failure to embrace the virtues that I suspect a majority of us would claim define us as human beings - love, compassion, pragmatism, common sense.

The language of war, steeped in rhetoric that glorifies violence and conquest, stands in stark contrast to what genuine statesmanship and diplomacy should embody: love, courage, generosity and a yearning for reciprocity.

Distorting reality

The very words we use to describe wars often mask its true horror. War is when innocent women, children and babies are raped, burned alive, and their bodies frayed by bullets. War is when the youth of one country are sent overseas to fight other young people over arguments that cowardly old men will not or cannot settle. War is when journalists, teachers and doctors are silenced for fear they will report the truth to the outside world. War is when we covet another nation’s resources so badly that we will put any argument forward to take them by force. War is when the ceremony of innocence is drowned.

Rhetoric that talks of “collateral damage” or “friendly fire” and even “unintended targets” reduce the slaughter to euphemisms, the guileful use of cold code stripping away the warm-blooded humanity of those whose life has ended in brutal and bloody carnage. This language serves a dual purpose: it anesthetizes the conscience of the populace while legitimizing the actions of those in power. This distortion is not the hallmark of true leadership; warmongering is borne from a place of paranoia and cowardice. Rulers who use the language and threat of war as a weapon reveal their fragility – a tragic inability to front up to the complexities of the human condition, and acknowledge the innate desire for peace that exists in all of us. Their impact is not leadership, it is tyranny.

In philosophical terms, this manipulation of language mirrors the concept of the “noble lie” - a false narrative propagated by those in authority in order to maintain power, or at least a semblance of control. It is a betrayal of trust, an act that diminishes the sacredness of life itself. As we examine this narrative, we must ask ourselves: whose interests are truly served by such distortions? The answer often leads us to a troubling conclusion: that the architects of war are only partially motivated by notions of freedom, economic gain, or regime change, and what are loosely referred to as “national interests” - if at all. On the other hand almost all of them appear to be driven by an irrepressible ego and a toxic sense of superiority, blinded by their own rabid hubris.

The Universal Yearning for Peace

Despite the pervasive shadow of war, a burning desire for harmony and peace resides within the hearts of most people. Christian or Muslim, black or white, young or old, male or female, this craving is universal, it transcends borders and cultures. Whether we find ourselves in the bustling streets of Seoul or the serene landscapes of Iceland, this common thread binds us together in our individual quests for joy, security, and connection. We aspire not only to exist but to thrive, to find love and cultivate relationships free from the horror of violence, and to foster communities where empathy and understanding reign supreme.

Yet, those to whom we give power, as well as those who snatch it from the hands of others, often exploit this desire for their own ends, manufacturing fear, apprehension and conflict as tools to consolidate their power. The legacy they leave behind is one of ruthless cruelty and perdition, a glaring indictment of their failure to recognize and give adequate credence to the sanctity of life. Their actions are those of a playground bully, perpetuating cycles of violence and suffering.

This dissonance between the aspirations of the many and the actions of a few reflects a profound moral crisis - a disconnect that we must confront if we are to have any hope of building a better future together.

The Essence of True Leadership

In my third book, “The Five Literacies of Global Leadership”, I tried to define a more explicit expression of what leadership actually feels and looks like, a phenomenon divorced from any one model, and from the perspective of those dubbed “leader” and others in the same circle who were invariably assumed to be “followers”. My own observations did not accord with the predictable range of business school formulae defining leaders. These all relied on some kind of qualifier - authentic leadership, transformational leadership, servant leadership, and situational leadership, for example – to bring credence and relevance from a management consulting sales point of view.

In the context of aggression and instability, real leadership is defined not by the ability to wage war but by the capacity to inspire peace. Leaders embody love and courage; they seek to unite rather than divide, to uplift rather than to oppress. They understand that their power comes not from coercion or toughness, nor from a vision of how things should be, and certainly not from any extrinsic convictions arising from their office, but from their own humility fuelled by the trust and respect of the people they seek to guide. The same narrative should spill over into geopolitics. Great leaders recognize that the strength of a nation lies not in its military might but in its ability to foster harmony and healing among its citizens and within the broader community.

In this light, the challenge before us is twofold: we must hold our rulers accountable for leading, by cultivating a new ontology of leadership that prioritizes collaboration over conflict, peace over war, harmony over discord. This requires a radical shift in our appreciation of power and the games played to win and keep it. Instead of viewing leadership as a state in which supremacy shuttles to and fro between opposing factions, or engraves a linear arc of progress, we must see it as a commitment to service; a dedication to nurturing truth, the common good, and promoting universal well-being. This concept of leading is embedded in a spirit of trust, where dialogue replaces hostility, and empathy supplants indifference.

The Emotional Toll of War

The emotional toll of war is incalculable. It seeps deeply into the soul of society, leaving scars that endure long after the guns have fallen silent. The trauma inflicted on individuals, families, and communities resounds down generations, creating a legacy of pain that is almost impossible to erase. Those who experience the horrors of war carry with them not only physical wounds but also the burden of grief, and a deep longing for what was lost.

In contemplating the abomination of war, we must confront the ethical implications of our choices. What does it mean to choose violence over dialogue? What does it say about our humanity when we elevate the language of war above the language of peace? These questions invite us to reflect on our collective responsibility to nurture a culture of amity and kinship, one that prioritizes understanding and empathy.

Embracing Our Shared Humanity

To stop the human slaughter that has plagued our history, we must rise as a collective force for mindful change. This is not merely a political challenge but a moral imperative. We, the people of the world, must demand that those in power embrace the desire for enduring peace. They must step away from aggression at every opportunity. The era of justifying war as a means to an end must itself come to an end.

As we advocate for this radical shift, we must also nurture the seeds of peace within our communities. This begins with social education - teaching future generations the values of empathy, tolerance and cooperation. It involves creating spaces for dialogue, where diverse voices can be heard and understood. By fostering a culture of peace, and an intolerance to hate, we can more easily challenge the narratives that perpetuate war, building a world where the sanctity of life is revered.

A Vision for Humanity

The abomination that is warfare reflects a collective ineptitude and inability to rise above the ordeals of modern life. But it also presents us with an opportunity for a profound metamorphosis. As we confront the chronicles of humanity past and present, we can embrace qualities that unite rather than divide us. Now is the time to reject the language and semiotics of war, along with the macabre trend to exalt it as being noble in some manner. Instead, we should be exalting the language and conduct of peace, recognizing that our shared humanity is worth fighting for - through understanding, compassion, and a relentless commitment to concord.

In this future, we can see a world where the echoes of conflict might slowly fade, replaced by the harmony of cooperation and solidarity, where the horrors of war give way to the promise of a brighter and more peaceful future. It is within our grasp to create a legacy of love, one that honours the sacredness of life and affirms our shared aspirations for joy and fulfillment.

Together, we can make this vision a reality, forging a path toward a more compassionate and unified world. Light a candle for peace in your home today.