Upon listening to news reports of the various conflicts that are ongoing around the world such as in the Ukraine, Syria, ISIS in Iraq and others, I came to the conclusion that no matter how hideous, unjust or irrational as these wars and others may seem they are serving a means by which others can profit monetarily. I know that the aforementioned statement may horrify some but please bear with me for a moment. This is not some chastising lecture on war profiteering but on profiteering in general regardless of the conflict.
Consider this, you can’t sell guns, tanks or any other weapons of destruction to those who have perpetual peace with one another just as you can’t sell your services as a lawyer in civil litigation cases to those who are willing to resolve their issues peacefully and amicably. The simple truth is, conflict sells. Regardless of whether you are referring to global, national and local conflicts or civil disputes involving businesses, groups or individuals. The entertainment industry is another fine example of exploiting conflict for profit. Just think about the television programmes you watch especially those reality shows. Would they really peak your interest if there weren’t some disagreement to be resolved or even two or more individuals involved in a heated verbal or physical altercation? It is not my intention to insult your television habits so forgive me if I have. I only want to give you some food for thought.
Reflect also on the billions amount in arms sales made across the world. Threats and potential threats whether real or imagined fuel billions if not more in arms sales for various businesses and governments alone. I am also sure that we would be just as astonished with regard to the total cost that goes into resolving civil conflicts that is if solicitors weren’t so secretive about the amount of billable charges that are made to clients owing their secrecy to attorney client privilege. I am quite sure that everyone gets there piece of the conflict pie to include courts/clerks etc.
In my opinion there will always be conflict because of the simple fact that there is money to be made in it and because we as individuals, allow ourselves to be manipulated into fueling the very conflict that ravage our societies and our lives which in-turn places the burden of cost directly on us to resolve them. In other words we initiate or fuel the conflict and become victimize by it directly or indirectly and then pay the cost of resolving them thereby allowing others to profit. Utilising a regional conflict or war as one example:
- conflict erupts within a region or across several countries due to some dispute
- as the conflict rages, damage is done both in terms of lives lost and infrastructures destroyed
- weapons are purchased and sent to the region for the combatants to wage or escalate their war
- When the conflict is finally resolved, (if it is resolved) money must be borrowed in order to rebuild what was lost
This may be an over-simplification of conflict profiteering but it is worth your consideration.
Now there are no ready-made solutions as every conflict has its own unique origin but I believe that, like with so many other things, it is within our control to limit the escalation of conflicts on all levels both individually and collectively. As I have mentioned in past posts, it will require us to look within ourselves and take control over our emotions and our actions. We must stop feeding oxygen to the fires of conflict in all of its various forms and endeavour to circulate the winds of peace. Only then can we stop the endless cycle of violence and bankrupt the mechanisms of our own destruction.
lifemeaning4u - Mavrik 