Dear Editor,

During the 18th century, known as the Period of Enlightenment, it was commonly thought that education would make human beings less irrational.

But from that time forward this noble idea has proven to be an illusion, for it would appear that the more knowledge has increased, the more irrational and barbaric are the actions of homo sapiens.

There is no greater manifestation of this blatant act of irrationality and barbarity than the increasing magnitude of modern warfare. Innumerable wars have been fought throughout the centuries, but no century can match the twentieth century in terms of the totality of international conflicts.

War is an irrational act of barbarism, and its demonising effects on those who are forced to defend themselves have been quite evident. Once the vortex of war is set in motion, even benign leaders and their supporters are drawn within its swirling current of barbarism. Thus, very often the defenders of liberty are drawn down to the barbarous level of the aggressors.

There is no better example of this type of degenerative behaviour than the dreadful fire-bombing of civilian targets in the German city of Dresden during the Second World War. This act of brutality was in retaliation to the saturation bombing of similar targets in Britain by the Germans.

It is estimated that over 130,000 German civilians perished in a single night of relentless RAF bombing.

The Second World War is replete with scores of similar retaliatory acts of barbarism directed primarily at civilians. It is estimated that of the 55 million people who lost their lives during World War II, more than 50 per cent were civilians, including millions of innocent little children.

Never before had the world experienced such a total disregard for human life. But in all probability, this unprecedented act of barbarism could be surpassed if the nations and terrorists of the world continue along their present course of mindless irrationality.

If recent trends in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa are any indication, I am afraid that the world may be in for an unprecedented bloodbath of the greatest magnitude.

It is clear that in a war everyone suffers. At this time when we remember our brave soldiers who fought heroically and gave up their lives in the wars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, let us not forget the civilians, especially young innocent babies and children, who died and are still dying as a result of the barbaric machinations of self-centred, irrational national leaders and also terrorists of the world.

Rupert Johnson

Toronto, Canada

r.b.johnson@sympatico.ca