Does Anyone Remember Why We Are Fighting ?

I was born in 1965. Being a curious person, I decided to look up how many wars have been fought since 1965. Why? It seems like the world has been at war my entire life.

Due to the varying definitions of what actually constitutes a war, it is difficult to pinpoint with 100 percent accuracy how many wars have been fought since I came into existence.

In between internationally recognized wars, there are a bunch of conflicts and skirmishes fought at a more local level. The result is the same: many people die for the profit of a few.

We can define war as a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country.

War typically includes organized and prolonged violence, large-scale mobilization of military forces, and significant social and economic disruption. 

Major wars since 1965 include:

1. Vietnam War (1955-1975)
2. Six-Day War (1967)
3. Yom Kippur War (1973)
4. Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
5. Falklands War (1982)
6. Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989)
7. Gulf War (1990-1991)
8. Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001)
9. Rwandan Genocide (1994)
10. Second Congo War (1998-2003)
11. War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)
12. Iraq War (2003-2011)
13. Syrian Civil War (2011-present)
14. Yemeni Civil War (2014-present)
15. Russo-Ukrainian War (2014-present) [yes, this conflict began long before the invasion of February 2022]
16. Israel-Hamas War (2023-present)

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God blesses those who work for peace,
    for they will be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:9 NLT

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Many smaller and less internationally recognized conflicts have also occurred since 1965, the year I was born. Here is a short list (raise your hand if you’ve heard of any of these):

1. Biafran War (Nigerian Civil War) (1967-1970)
   • A conflict in Nigeria caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra.
2. Bangladesh Liberation War (1971)
   • A war of independence in East Pakistan that resulted in the creation of the independent nation of Bangladesh.
3. Ogaden War (1977-1978)
   • A conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia over the Ogaden region.
4. The Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990)
   • A multifaceted civil war in Lebanon involving various factions and external interventions.
5. Salvadoran Civil War (1979-1992)
   • A conflict in El Salvador between the military-led government and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN).
6. Uganda-Tanzania War (1978-1979)
   • A war between Uganda and Tanzania following Uganda’s invasion of Tanzania.
7. First and Second Sudanese Civil Wars (1955-1972, 1983-2005)
   • Conflicts between the northern Sudanese government and southern Sudanese rebels.
8. Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009)
   • A conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
9. Bougainville Civil War (1988-1998)
   • A conflict in Papua New Guinea over the secession of Bougainville.
10. Tuareg Rebellions in Mali and Niger (1990s, 2007-2009, 2012-present)
    • A series of uprisings by the Tuareg people in Mali and Niger seeking autonomy or independence.
11. First and Second Chechen Wars (1994-1996, 1999-2009)
    • Conflicts between Russia and Chechen separatist forces.
12. Central African Republic Bush War (2004-2007)
    • An insurgency in the Central African Republic involving various rebel groups.
13. Honduran Civil Conflict (2009)
    • Political and social unrest following the ousting of President Manuel Zelaya.
14. Mexican Drug War (2006-present)
    • An ongoing conflict between the Mexican government and various drug trafficking cartels
15. The Conflict in Haiti (2019-present)
    • Conflict first erupted in 2019 in protest of the government. Waves of crime and violence have rocked the country since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Violence has continued to escalate in 2024.

These localized wars often receive less international attention compared to larger-scale wars. These skirmishes seem insignificant to a distant world, yet are undoubtedly very significant to those involved.

People still die. Lives are disrupted and destroyed. And a few people profit.

So why haven’t we heard more about them?

There are a number of reasons that cause news organizations to report on various conflicts less than they do others. They include proximity and geopolitical interest, as well as competing news stories, media bias, and viewer fatigue.

It is important to recognize that wars are complex and multifaceted. Factors such as political ideologies, territorial disputes, ethnic or religious tensions, and historical grievances often play key roles in the cause of war.

Profit is always a significant reason and motivation for war, but it is often intertwined with other factors and conditions that lead to conflict. For a conflict to exist, you simply need people who disagree and can’t resolve their differences.

All told, between big wars and little ones, that’s thirty-plus significant conflicts. No doubt, I’ve missed a few. Let me know if you know of one that didn’t make it onto either of my two lists.

It’s 2024. Why do we still have war?

Growing up, my parents were clear about their anti-war sentiments. As children, they had both survived a global war. My folks experienced the hysteria of conflict and witnessed the toll war took on the people they knew and loved.

I grew up hearing songs about giving peace a chance and how all we need is love.

Surely, by now, we’ve figured out how to put a stop to all this endless fighting?

Unfortunately, the evidence suggests otherwise. There are so many other pressing issues that need our attention.

It’s been nearly 40 years since the war in Vietnam ended.

Does anyone remember why we are fighting?

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Did you know that during the height of the global pandemic, a new billionaire was created every 17 hours?

Source: Forbes Magazine

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What if we focused our energy and dollars on affordable housing, feeding hungry children and helping impoverished families, providing clean drinking water, preserving green spaces, rebuilding infrastructure, sustainable energy, ensuring healthier farming and food supplies, and a host of other priorities?

Together, we can.

The time has come for us to decide.

Know you are loved.

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™