I lived in Africa for many years and saw many serious conflicts, from Sudan, through Rwanda and Liberia to South Africa, and many more besides. One comment made by an African child on seeing news footage of the build up of military weapons on the eve of the Gulf War remains with me.
The child saw tanks, aircraft and battle ships in a series of news clips, showing forces massing on the border of Iraq. He was nine years old and had never seen such things. He had no idea of the political context or what it was all about. He turned to me and said, "When we are afraid, we have guns, too. These people must be very afraid."
When an animal is afraid, it becomes defensive. Displays of military strength and patriotic zeal, when seen for what they really are, amount to little more than expressions of how fearful we really are. Strength comes not from being able to fight, but by finding methods not to have to.
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