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Originally Posted by willravel
Let's take two people with diametrically opposed viewpoints, like host and ace (first that came to mind). These two people often get into verbal battles, and clearly have a completely different outlook on life, different philosophies, and different politics. I would be willing to bet, though, if Host were president of the United States of host, and Ace were the leader of Aceland, they wouldn't go to war. In this crazy world, you can completely disagree with someone even on fundamental levels without going to war. If everyone who was different and had different viewpoints went to war, the US would have bombed France in 2002 and 2003. Why didn't that happen?
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But diametrical differences aren't what starts wars. It may act as an impetus and create the friction that causes more panic to be stronger than the other side (USA -USSR/China) but it isn't the start.
The start for war is primarily greed (Hitler wanting to take over the world, the USSR in Eastern Europe, China in Asia), trying to "liberate and protect people" (US - Iraq/Nam/Korea), trying to subdue and conquer your "enemies" before they can do it to you, religious issues (the crusades, todays Middle East, India/Pakistan), many reasons, those are the simple basics.
Or in most recent times, you could have the 2 strongest kids on the block wanting allies so badly that they start revolutions and put puppets in... the other side finds reasons and plants the seeds of hatred/fear/prejudice/etc into neighboring countries... both sides arm and it's a ticking bomb noone can disarm because the seeds of hatred and looking for reasons to fight/defend preemptively have been planted.... think US-USSR Middle East.
One reason the Iranians have come to hate us is we needed Iran to help us maintain control in the Middle East, we put a very sadistic, cruel leader in power (the Shah) and when the people overthrew him and realized we had supported him, they came to hate and distrust us. They then go to their neighbors and plant seeds of doubt as to what the US might have done in their countries.
There was no need to bomb France, and had we, any allies we did have would have been lost and that would have started a truly serious war that would make the one we have with Iraq/Afghanistan seem nothing more than a skirmish.
It takes time, education and willingness on both sides to diffuse the hatreds and gain true peace between countries.
It is easier to rule and keep power by fear (either within or without) than to share true power among the people.
With fear comes hatred, with hatred comes preparation and eventually some form of violent reaction. Negativity begets negativity.