Review of War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges

War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges is a deeply insightful and a provocative and illuminating anatomy of war. It unveils war for what it truly is; organized murder disguised as a myth that gives us meaning to our lives. Hedges uses his own war experiences from the 15 years he spent as a foreign correspondent to address and gives light to the realities of war.

I have previously posted a blog about the addictiveness of war, which was also influenced by this book. After finishing, I realize that that statement is only partly true. War is a drug and "a force that gives us meaning" to our lives, but only to those who haven't yet faced the true horrors of war... those who still believe the myth of war. That war is full of heroes and glory. That killing is quick and painless. That in the face of danger we will act brave and selflessly. All this is not the real nature of war. In reality the atrocities of war are more horrid than anything I want to write about and if you are really interested in real war stories I suggest this book, In the Hot Zone by Kevin Sites, or The Things They Carried by Tim O'brien.

Hedges concludes that in the end the meaning that war gives our lives is superficial and short lived. The feeling of honor and glory is a lie. The only true way to find meaning in your life is through love. Love gives us the two things human being strive their entire life to find... happiness and meaning. It is the only way to compete with the drug that is war. It is the only way to compete with the corruption, atrocities, and mental and physical destruction that stems from war. "We need to recognize love in the lives of others, even those with whom we are in conflict, love that is like our own. It does not mean we will avoid war or death. It does not mean that we as distinct individuals will survive. But love, in its mystery, has its own power. It alone gives us meaning that endures. It along allows us to embrace and cherish life. Love has power both to resist in our nature what we know we must resist, and to affirm what we know we must affirm. And love, as the poets remind us, is eternal."