WAR

For my part, I side with the opinion that war is a prerequisite for the better development of a nation as the result of the following considerations．

First and foremost, the ultimate objective of a war is to gain peace. Ancient Rome is a good example to illustrate the relationship between war and peace. Not long after Octavian defeated the rulers of Egypt Anthony and Cleopatra in the naval battle of Actium, Rome embraced the period of peace and prosperity between 27BC and 180AD which is known as the Pax Romana. It is the war that completed the demise of the sporadic strife and chaos, which ensured the later peace. Then the peace brought by Rome trade, literature, art, and science flourished. So we can see that the adequate peace time for development of a nation must be exchanged by wars.

Secondly, war can promote the transformation of a nation. Here I use England in the Hundred Years’ War as an example. It is universally acknowledged that England suffered its final defeat in this war, but the war benefited the nation a lot. The introduction of weapons and gunpowder in the war made castles of feudal lords easy to be stormed, which accelerated the decline of feudalism in England. On the other hand, the need of money to support the war encouraged the growing bourgeoisie to thrive, which ensured the status of the nation in the world several centuries later. More examples, after World War I the Bolshevik rise to power in Russia. And the war also ignited colonial revolts in the Middle East and in South Asia. Wars always bring about transformations. Can you find a nation who ever had earthshaking transformation without being enmeshed in wars?

A third reason, cultures shocked during wars, which contributes to the unity of a nation. For instance, before the American Civil War, this nation was actually divided into two parts, the North and the South. During the war, people from the north and south communicated with each other and they began to accept minds of the opposite side. After the war, the transformation of southern society became possible. So, we can say that it’s the war that made what the United States is. In a word, we cannot emphasize the importance of this war in American history too much.

In addition, wars contribute to national personalities. After Chinese endured the invasion from the occident, we formed the spirits of self-sacrifice, competitive consciousness and compassion for fragile lives. All these personality traits refuel the development of a rich, strong and prosperous China. It would be another story if we hadn’t undergone that harsh period. With our people changing from the introverted to the extroverted, our country also looks more open and exuberant. No one can deny the fact that the personalities of a nation’s people have a great influence on the development of a nation.

In brief, for a nation who longs for the better development, willy-nilly, wars are inevitable.