War Affects and Degrades All

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 8 October 2024 Now when raging wars in many parts of the world are threatening to engulf mankind, I'm reminded of E M Foster's two famous quotes that are germane to what we're witnessing at the moment: "I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars " and " One is left with the horrible feeling now that war settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one. " "I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars," a quote by E M Forster, encapsulates the inherent power and compassion of motherhood. With this statement, Forster suggests that the shared experience of nurturing, protecting, and loving a child could bridge the divide between nations and extinguish the flames of conflict. By emphasizing the unifying bond that exists within motherhood, Forster implies that mothers possess an innate ability to empathize and understand the pain and loss associated with war. Mothers have the unique capacity to impart values of peace, compassion, and cooperation to their children, instilling a sense of empathy and humanity that can potentially transcend national boundaries. This thought-provoking quote posits that true change can be achieved by harnessing the collective maternal force, which could ultimately lead the world toward a future devoid of warfare. Actually, this maternal force or instinct is Empathy; a universal feeling of overwhelming compassion for not just humans but for all that we come across in life. In other words, only connect.....live in fragments no longer. We all seem to have collectively suppressed that proverbial motherly love which is inherent in all of us. Nearly 800 years ago, Jalaluddin Rumi said, " If every human thinks and feels like a mother, there'll be no violence and battles in the world."Har Seene Mein Dil Agar Ma Ka Ho/ Talkhiyon Ke Liye Duniya Mein Jagah Na Ho" (If everyone has the heart of a mother/ There'll be no place for bitterness). Here, mother is a metaphor for love, piety and sanity. E M Forster's quote, "One is left with the horrible feeling now that war settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one," encapsulates the destructive nature of warfare and its incredibly high costs. It emphasizes the futility of engaging in armed conflicts, suggesting that regardless of the outcome, no true resolution or tangible progress is achieved. While winning a war may seem like a triumph, Forster argues that the destruction and loss experienced on both sides make victory as devastating as defeat. This quote serves as a powerful reminder of the profound human suffering and devastation caused by war, urging us to seek peaceful alternatives for resolving conflicts. The so-called victory in a war is a Pyrrhic Victory (a victory that is not worth winning because so much is lost to achieve it. The word comes from the name of Pyrrhus, a long-ago king of Epirus, who suffered heavy losses in defeating the Romans at Asculum in Apulia in 279 B.C.E). After winning the Battle at Kurukshetra in Mahabharata, the victorious Pandavas had the same feeling of disenchantment, destruction, despondency and desolation when they realised that they achieved it after losing innumerable, invaluable human lives on both sides. War is a collective decadence of sublime human spirit and a throwback to a feral and prehistoric era of our troglodyte ancestors. It's incongruous in a 'civilized' world because it affects and degrades all. War is a roadblock to human evolution and a sanguinary manifestation of our egoistic selves. Ever-embattled humanity urgently requires the balm of sense and sensibility. Is the PM of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu listening? ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/war-affects-degrades/d/133380 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism