Will the world be a peaceful place if all soldiers of all countries decide not to fight with each other?

Posted 28Oct2017.

This is an easy question to answer: no.

Name one time, people, or society in the history of mankind which lived in blissful peace with themselves and their neighbors.

There is none.

We love each other, and we hate each other. We want to help, and we want to inflict atrocities. The title given to the perpetrators of those extremes does not matter one bit: “civilian,” “soldier,” “mercenary,” or “missionary.” All will commit good just as readily as they commit evil for whatever motivations. Protection, defense, greed, or just because they can. It’s who we are, who we have always been, and what will continue until someone finds a way to defeat every motivating factor and underlying for violence.

It sucks at times. Studying history can be depressing when you realize the power of our emotions. Idealistic hopes for peace is rarely a deterrence against a determined adversary.