If you’ve heard the song “War” by Edwin Starr, you would know that the answer to the question of what war is good for, is “absolutely nothing”. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of having an Uber Driver from Syria and my aversion to small talk led me to ask him about whether he still has family in Syria. He responded “yes” and I proceed to ask if his family is okay. His response made me feel like the most insensitive person ever as he stated that his family is all dead, his brothers, everyone. Of course, I said “I am so sorry” multiple times but I felt that it was best not to continue the conversation as he looked like he was on the verge of tears trying to gaze his eyes away from me.

I can’t imagine how it must feel to lose your family over a pointless war. To be honest, I think all war is pointless. The people caught up in the fighting are usually innocent, while those orchestrating murder and torture sit in their mansions as they continue to abuse their power. I can’t even begin to fathom how someone can fervently support a war while knowing that several innocent people, including children, will die. I hope there’s a special place in hell for people like that. I know according to christianity, sin is sin, no matter how big or small but I think the sin of war should be far greater than most; like I think the corner of hell for those who promote war should be increased a couple 100 degrees higher than the rest haha.

Don’t worry, I won’t bring the orange president Mr. Trump into this. As much as some of us despise him, he is not the first to air strike other countries and he probably won’t be the last. I know wishing for peace is cliche and is a classic beauty pageant answer to “how can the world improve?” But yeah, I think peace can take us very far. Just look at how war has held us back (those of us who don’t have stocks in military related companies). The U.S. alone spent billions on the “war on terror” only to find out there that there weren’t any “weapons of mass destruction” in Iraq. Like how stupid is that?! And after all this, you would think we would learn our lesson and stop meddling in the Middle East. But no, the same cycle of war continues.

I wonder how war lords go to sleep at night knowing that their actions directly lead to the death of innocent lives. Is maintenance of money and power that important that war becomes just another day at the office? What do you tell people like my Uber Driver who have to live without their family that they loved so dearly just because someone wanted more power. I can’t even imagine the pain that my Uber Driver has been through but I commend him for his strength and hope. For the fact that he somehow finds meaning in his life to continue another day of work and another day of living without his family.