The year 2023 is rapidly coming to an end, and what’s changed? Not much, except many innocents have died since wars, some labeled “justified,” have killed too many noncombatants, and we have grown comfortable accepting that “collateral damage,” i.e., dead civilians, as a natural byproduct of war.

But what is war? How is it declared? Are there universal guidelines for governing the activity of war?

Is war fought only between recognized political entities, such as standing sates/nations? Are there illegitimate wars? Who decides?

Today, we fight so-called modern wars. Proxy wars. Seemingly, the size and scale of modern conflicts is not important. The war between Israel and Gaza is small scale compared to the war between Ukraine and Russia, or the conflict underway in Sudan, a very large territory on the African continent.

Each of these wars are being fought for different reasons: Israel says it is fighting for their right to exist and security from terrorists; Ukraine is fighting for democratic ideals, independence from Russia, and the right to join NATO; and opposing military leaders in Sudan are fighting to seize power.

Are these legitimate reasons, thereby worthy of time, attention, weapons, monetary support from the USA? And, in each of these “theaters” of war, there are international rules, humanitarian monitors, embedded media, instant replays, etc.

We have become complicit in this incessant coverage of brutal theater; discerning consumers of the brutality and the new terminology. The 1960s Vietnam War brought the fighting mostly to our dinner tables, on videotape. Now, we can plug in 24/7 and watch the carnage live. One US congressman recently described the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza as an orgy of savagery. We cannot turn away.

It’s common to tune in to the latest news about “smart bombs” and precision targeting, making us immune to the bloodbath served up during our mundane daily lives. We can watch the rebel Houthis in Yemen playing video games using drones to target ships entering the Red Sea.

Remember how the US killed Osama Bin-laden? It was broadcast on primetime news as precise and clinical.

We have adopted descriptions designed to diminish the sting of killing, e.g. “dumb bombs,” to make it easier to swallow the images of the war-damaged. Yet, children still die as the result of a dumb bomb.

Human beings have been waging war since we began as a species. We have fought over territory, religion, water, differences in dress, culture, language, ideas, and other beliefs about the “enemy.”

Language has evolved to elevate references to war. We celebrate the glories, the victories, the honor, and valor of fighters, etc. We have designed emblems, uniforms, and medals to recognize ranks. Rituals for training and promoting warriors have created competition between various branches of the military. There are songs, martial marches, and poems in tribute to warfare. Places of combat become hallowed ground and we erect monuments to military actions.

Even the US national anthem is a celebration of a “win” during one battle in the war of 1812 against the British.

Some would argue that we have evolved. Especially since we have agreed (nuclear nonproliferation treaties, et al.) that we have enough “smart” weapons with the capacity for total planetary annihilation.

But can, or will modern human beings altogether eliminate war between ourselves?

In some US States, I can go to “war” with my neighbor, one-on-one, mano-a mano, toe-to-toe. It is not a “sanctioned” war, and I have to play by a “stand your ground” law which gives me the right and privilege to justifiably kill another person under certain circumstances. Yes, I can go to war with you under that law, and if I follow the rule, be perfectly vindicated. It’s really a vacuous victory for individuals since it has limited application. But just wait a while.

Can you legislate core human characteristics? Tribal conflicts? Border wars? Religious conflicts? Famines and other natural inequities?

Look within. Be honest. Do you secretly long to “stand your ground” against your neighbor?

The current divide in this country, where conservatives are pitted against liberals, the right against the left, suburban residents against urban dwellers, west coast vs. east coast, the rub up of the 1% versus the rest of us, racial and language groups against the so-called majority, etc., is a harbinger for an all-out “war” within our own borders.

We are on a clear trajectory toward more bloody confrontations, in the streets, in schools (university students have already begun demonstrating revolutionary outrage), within and between churches/synagogues/temples. The legislature is in paralysis and the Supreme Court has suffered an ethics breakdown, while there is a struggle to expand executive authority, all of which have spilled over around family dinner tables. Uncivil, indeed.

You have a choice in rebuilding our society once again, in designing and embracing lofty ideals. You must participate in the upcoming election. Our leaders will have a heavy hand in shaping our response to the wars at home, as well as those abroad. And please vote. Vote. Vote!