Introduction to a modern Knight. A moral question of the fairness of warfare.

I would like to wish my fellow humans a wonderful and productive day, as I write down this little introduction of myself.
I am Voinescu Marius, a jack of all trades and master of none really, but a deep and passionate thinker on all the various schools of thought that exist.
I live in the East European nation of Romania, a very interesting place to be sure. It's full of wonderful virgin forests and a national history that stirs up great price. At least for those who understand the value of that pride. And here is the big dilemma of the human, or rather (intelligent) being.

Humans have proven a to be the victims of their own success on many occasions, and easily manipulated by their own desires and obsessions. We have a extreme passion for knowledge above all things. Every book hoarder the world over will tell you that they have this constant need to obtain, this book or other in order to understand the nature of the acts of war, or the thoughts of that mathematician, doctor, or the biology lectures of that genetic researcher.

Obviously no one possess the physical time to read an entire library in one lifetime, but they DO read. This is the same thing with every collector, they will hoard a particular item and make themselves masters of that item. If you would ever have a chat with a banker who besides being wealthy, collects old money he will share “rather enthusiastically” on the subject of trade and economy.

Every person wants to feel special, or included in some special group somewhere, to achieve something no other person has done, or will ever do. This is both a evolutionary trait and a flaw in our mental design. Because it allows us to become skilled in a particular craft of our fancy, but what happens when we turn our passion, into obsession.

As you have have figured out I am putting forward a discussion on philosophy, so if that isn't your interest, that’s fair just move on.

Continuing the talk about hobbies, I for example practice a sport called Buhurt, or HMB “Historical Medieval Battle” a reenactment of the type of madness that the grand melee of middle ages. Participants wear reproductions of full plate armor from the 14th to the 16th century, arm themselves with blunt steel weapons “also faithfull analogs” and do battle.

Each company from each nation divides their combatants in equal teams, and the objective is simple. Mercilessly beat your enemy until they fall over, and the sport while violent, is very fair. Marshalls “referees” are asked to maintain a semblance of order, and while the participants what to win by any means necessary their purpose is not to kill their opponents.

After a hard battle each man, helps the other pick himself up they shake hands and even hug in full steel body armor, a curious but interesting sight for men, and women who only just a moment ago bashed each other with swords and axes.

And here I wish to deviate into a talk about warfare. War...what is it good for? Absolutely nothing, some fools might say. Oh my poor poor misguided sheep I would tell them.

War is the most essential activity any and ALL species engage in, from the smallest bacteria to the most complex animal, all engage in warfare. Humans excel at it because we, like most other animals, want to dominate. Once we have developed simple tools we have exploded onto the scene as a effective and ruthless predator.

I would argue that war is absolutely necessary, it is what has allowed us to become masters of our world, to defeat our natural predators and each other. But why, if we have a sufficiently advanced society should we continue to waste money on war, you might ask?

Oh my poor little sheep, study history for one moment and tell me happened to the animals “and yes all humans are animals” we once called the Maya, the Aztec, the Native Americans, the Aborigines.

They are extinct, or at the very least are so few in number that their collective voice cannot influence future events. This is what I am convinced will happen with us, should a alien species which to visit out corner of the universe, and we must be prepared. As Arthur C Clarke has put it we are either alone in the universe, or we are not.

Should we find a equally developed alien nation to us, we would naturally want to trade with that nation to have a equal footing and slowly jostle for position over certain assets. Needless to say that when two unequal nations meet, the superior one will wish to dominate.

We must not be fools to assume that advanced alien nations have no need to wage war, this idealistic notion will only get us killed in the long run as a species. And we have enough proof in our local plannet to prove this. Look at animal farm, the best selling book by George Orwell.

Even once their collective goal was met, the animals created a society that only offered the illusion of equality, and slowly became a caste system where the intelligent animals ruled over their “lessers” with cold logic and a iron fist. The book ended on a good note due to the rule of the pigs, being overthrown but the entire cycle will, invariably, start all over again.

The war of survival you see is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous. Taking the example of animal farm, how many people today would be able to rise up against a corporation, criminal government, or “dictator”.

The answer is very few, and more often than not those criminal dictators, are brought down by equally nasty dictators who simply want to steal their power. Elite rulers, like most smart animals unwilling to give up their gains, build defenses and barriers to dissuade any opposition to their authority. Just as in animal farm, the pigs used the dogs to keep the sheep in line.

So now I ask you, why do you ask the rich to give to the poor? Well quite naturally because there is some goodness in humanity and we can afford to offer a little bit. And I would agree, but at the same time if you want a change start with yourself. We expect the rich government officials to write up better policies, corporate heads to offer cheaper, better services, bankers to offer lower rates and so forth.

But do we the common “middle class” folk offer handouts to our lesser brothers and sisters who are even less fortunate? Some do yes, but most don't. I had this popular image to share with you and I think it is quite evocative of my point.

I had in mind the assassination of the dearly departed Princes Diana, who I used as a model for my novel “The Wolf Prince”. She was a kind and understanding soul and a model for human kindness and understanding, but was unfortunately killed for her political involvements.

The nature of warfare and philosophy will forever be entangled, in a permanent conflict over morality and progress. On one hand we expect better things from our leaders, but can you blame them for misuse of power when other people would do the same thing, if offered that power? And on another hands do we, all of us do the best we can to set the standard in what we believe is fair? To live by a morality that we expect other to observe?

This debate will forever rage and if animals could talk, they would join this debate. Animal rights activists the world over are entrenched in this debate.

I leave you my dear sheep and wolves with a personal quote. Humanity is a collection of sheep and wolves battling each other for survival. And Abraham Lincoln's quote: Any man can resist adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character give him power.

My advice to you all is, stay smart continue learning, read history.