Much ado 'bout Nuthin' at All
I am posting here simply because the buggering IT department in my college computer labs restricts entry into my other blog at blogspot. I try not to put stuff here, not because I don't like this site, but because I know it sends annoying Friendster Update E-mails to everyone on my list. I know how irritating that is. Anyway, I will try not to do it too often. Just when I am feeling particularly inspired to type something. Like now.
Actually, that inspirations just slipped away and I am currently left feeling empty. Seriously, I haven't the slightest clue as to what to type. I will try though. Something. Oh yes, got it.
I shall talk about death and loss. Morbid it may seem, but do not despair, for the main thing I wish to discuss only deals indirectly with the topic of death. I was reading this book by R.A.Salvatore these past four days (For those who follow this author, the book I am referring to is the third Hunter's Blade book, The Two Swords). The first bit following the epilogue, which is a monologue of Drizzt do' Urden, is a very insightful and thought-provoking one. It raised certain questions that might be worth pondering.
Drizzt talks about humanity's possibly Twoswords1_800x600intrinsic nature to desire chaos and anarchy. The gist of it is that because of the way we are, we tend to go for war and violence whenever we feel that we need to stir our excitements, and that long-lasting peace only leads to boredom within us. Drizzt is not making a statement, so it is important to not misunderstand the context of this situation. The Drow, Drizzt, has had to watch the fall and death of his dearest friends and his human beloved due to war. Despite being a veteran of many combats and battles, the loss takes a lot out of him. He begins to wonder whether, as beings, we may never be able to escape the horrors of war and violence simply because it is our nature to want it. We become passionate, excited and in the throes of battle-lust, we can only think of fighting, killing, and glory in battle. Through the passage of time, the horrors and bloodshed of past wars fade and we will only see the conquests of 'heroes' and 'champions'. We begin to look up to those warriors and instantly our own blood lust is stirred.
Drizzt's anger and pain at his loss makes him despite battle and violence even more, despite the fact that he is probably the greatest fighter in the Spine of the World. He stands and looks out upon a field of battle, where the bodies of enemies and allies alike lie strewn across the plains, and the carrion birds clean away the filth. He likens that cleansing of the physical remains of violent conflict to our own loss of memory of the ugly side of war. We forget about the suffering felt by our loved ones, those who suffer and die in battle. We only remember the glory. As such, the prospect of war becomes almost inevitable.
I cannot help but think that Salvatore was making a subtle hint at the current situation in our world through this book. We are faced by wars as well, in a world that is supposed to be highly advanced and civilized. Could he be right? Is war inescapable? Do we forget so easily of the loss and the pain? Despite having lost so much, we still choose the path of violence in order to solve our conflicts and grievances. Despite knowing the suffering war causes, nations still launch their artillery at their enemies, killing not just the small number of actual foes, but taking a far bigger number of civilian, innocent, lives as well. War is still happening in a world that has seen the passing of two great horrors known as the world wars. We have witnessed periods of genetic, racial and ethnic cleansing at such scales that should give us nightmares for a hundred generations, but this is not so. We seem to have forgotten very quickly indeed of the fate of the six million Jews under the Nazis, the tens of millions killed during the second World War and the continuing suffering of the people of Israel, Palestine, Kashmir and Chechnya, to name a few. The blood lust has gripped us again, and as a result, we are now standing upon the brink of another great war, where lives Will be lost, innocent people will suffer, just so warriors and war-commanders will have their glory and conquest. Is this who we are?
Actually, that inspirations just slipped away and I am currently left feeling empty. Seriously, I haven't the slightest clue as to what to type. I will try though. Something. Oh yes, got it.
I shall talk about death and loss. Morbid it may seem, but do not despair, for the main thing I wish to discuss only deals indirectly with the topic of death. I was reading this book by R.A.Salvatore these past four days (For those who follow this author, the book I am referring to is the third Hunter's Blade book, The Two Swords). The first bit following the epilogue, which is a monologue of Drizzt do' Urden, is a very insightful and thought-provoking one. It raised certain questions that might be worth pondering.
Drizzt talks about humanity's possibly Twoswords1_800x600intrinsic nature to desire chaos and anarchy. The gist of it is that because of the way we are, we tend to go for war and violence whenever we feel that we need to stir our excitements, and that long-lasting peace only leads to boredom within us. Drizzt is not making a statement, so it is important to not misunderstand the context of this situation. The Drow, Drizzt, has had to watch the fall and death of his dearest friends and his human beloved due to war. Despite being a veteran of many combats and battles, the loss takes a lot out of him. He begins to wonder whether, as beings, we may never be able to escape the horrors of war and violence simply because it is our nature to want it. We become passionate, excited and in the throes of battle-lust, we can only think of fighting, killing, and glory in battle. Through the passage of time, the horrors and bloodshed of past wars fade and we will only see the conquests of 'heroes' and 'champions'. We begin to look up to those warriors and instantly our own blood lust is stirred.
Drizzt's anger and pain at his loss makes him despite battle and violence even more, despite the fact that he is probably the greatest fighter in the Spine of the World. He stands and looks out upon a field of battle, where the bodies of enemies and allies alike lie strewn across the plains, and the carrion birds clean away the filth. He likens that cleansing of the physical remains of violent conflict to our own loss of memory of the ugly side of war. We forget about the suffering felt by our loved ones, those who suffer and die in battle. We only remember the glory. As such, the prospect of war becomes almost inevitable.
I cannot help but think that Salvatore was making a subtle hint at the current situation in our world through this book. We are faced by wars as well, in a world that is supposed to be highly advanced and civilized. Could he be right? Is war inescapable? Do we forget so easily of the loss and the pain? Despite having lost so much, we still choose the path of violence in order to solve our conflicts and grievances. Despite knowing the suffering war causes, nations still launch their artillery at their enemies, killing not just the small number of actual foes, but taking a far bigger number of civilian, innocent, lives as well. War is still happening in a world that has seen the passing of two great horrors known as the world wars. We have witnessed periods of genetic, racial and ethnic cleansing at such scales that should give us nightmares for a hundred generations, but this is not so. We seem to have forgotten very quickly indeed of the fate of the six million Jews under the Nazis, the tens of millions killed during the second World War and the continuing suffering of the people of Israel, Palestine, Kashmir and Chechnya, to name a few. The blood lust has gripped us again, and as a result, we are now standing upon the brink of another great war, where lives Will be lost, innocent people will suffer, just so warriors and war-commanders will have their glory and conquest. Is this who we are?
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