No Flattery: The Culture of War... The Power of the Present and the Future
During times of conflict, society experiences a state of tension. Life continues and people carry out their activities, yet inner feelings and thoughts become entangled. Even when we do not hear air-raid sirens, we fear their return and pray to God to keep us safe, protect our country, and strengthen the resolve of our armed forces.
Amidst the conditions of war, new concepts emerge and patterns take shape, influencing people’s behaviors and leaving deep imprints on their consciousness, as well as on their artistic and literary output. War is a harsh phase and a transitional period in how peoples perceive their reality and the trajectory of their future.
The worst development today is the frivolous approach to the ongoing war, oscillating between indulgence and denial. War demands close attention to events, coupled with an understanding of their causes, a firm conviction in the values of truth and justice, and a rejection of injustice and aggression in all their forms. It requires abandoning double standards and the pursuit of private interests, and instead fostering thoughtful discourse and rational responses. War is a test of peoples, their social cohesion, the depth of their knowledge, and their capacity to take stands.
When the emerging generation is absorbed in materialism, unfamiliar with key terminology, preoccupied only with coffee and selfies, and resorting to insults and sweeping generalizations, this is a calamity with far-reaching consequences.
We need serious initiatives that keep pace with our current circumstances. State institutions and their affiliated bodies must play a major role in educating the public. Clear evacuation plans must be established for public facilities and workplaces, and shelters must be provided in residential and commercial areas. Official media should address all segments of society, drawing on educators, social specialists, and religious speakers. Everyone, regardless of language or circumstances, should feel included and encouraged to contribute and cooperate. Inquiry and support hotlines should be opened. A life of prosperity must not make us forget our responsibilities during this sensitive period; rather, it should serve as a catalyst for unity and a means of confronting reality with faith, benevolence, and determination.
War culture emerges and is practiced, whether consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, paying attention to it is an urgent necessity, and working to shape it is a matter of existential importance. Constructing this culture is a deliberate process involving efforts, linkages, categorizations, organization, participation, credibility, and careful stewardship.
War culture is part of the country’s history and a documentation of the stance of its people and all those on its soil. It represents the psychological state and humanitarian movements of the present, as well as the future, narratives of heritage, and aspirations for what lies beyond.
