Independence Day

Afterword

Afterword

By Lieutenant Bartley C. Kauffmann

War is the question. What is war? Why is war? Why must men kill each other to settle arguments? Never are these men those who started the fight. They are men who are proud of who they are and proud of their country and proud of their beliefs; men who fight for what they believe in, and who sacrifice themselves when asked to. These men suffer through long years of battles, cold winters, and hot summers.

Where are the men who started this fight? Where do they stand to help us win this war for them? They sit in their big offices far away to ponder and worry about what is happening when all that is needed is instruction. These men ignore what is obvious, pretending it to be untrue, and try to move around the inevitable problem by making rash and foolish decisions, causing the soldiers who honourably enlisted to sacrifice themselves. These sacrifices are then a fruitless attempt to conquer the enemy; hundreds and thousands killed in an already doomed action, an action that will have already failed before the beginning.

Once in a long while, a great man comes along who understands what the army needs, who will fight alongside his men and suffer the same as them. This man ignores other suggestions and orders to get the best out of the army he fights with. He will not begin meetings with pleasantries, instead bringing the topic up immediately and telling those around him how he will save the war and his men; what he will do to achieve his ultimate goal. This is the rare man every soldier respects - a great mind who brings hope to those around him and will take charge with winning in his mind.

So ask yourself, as I have asked my self every day for forty-seven years: why is war? What argument can possibly be so terrible and important that thousands upon thousands of men must slaughter each other to end it - the winner being whoever has the stronger army? Why must an army be involved? For many wars do not begin as a problem with two armies. Can the reader answer why such terrible things must be done to settle a petty disagreement between two foolish men? If indeed the reader can do so, then they are a better and smarter man than me.

So here is my first story on this site. I hope you liked it, and I would enjoy constructive criticism from those who would like to share it.

Cheers.

Gettysburg1863