war :: essays research papers

The cries of joy were deafening as mint gathered in the streets. People ran around hugging and kissing strangers. In a sense, the news was totally unexpected. Japan had just surrendered. VJ Day, as it is now called, produced enormous celebration. Everyone was relieved that we would not have to endure a bloody incursion of Japan. We would not have to sacrifice 200,000 more men to end the war.During the war, millions of lives were arrogate on hold. Now that the war is over, people could start living their lives again. "The affliction is behind us," they would say. "We have win the war." In reality, though, there are no winners in war only losers. Even the "winners" are actually losers. some(prenominal) sides in any conflict suffer losses. The question is not who won the most, but who lost the least.The "winners" of WWII suffered staggering losses. Even the U.S., which did not have its give homeland ravaged by the war, suffered great losses. Besi des the $360 billion price tag ($3,578 billion in todays dollars), there were 292,131 Americans killed (not to abduce the 115,185 "non-battle deaths"). There were also 670,846 Americans wounded. This, of course, does not take into account the emotional cost of shattered lives and marriages.Yes, we "won" because we survived the war declared on us by Japan and Germany. Yes, we "won" because we saved the world from plummeting into a very opaque and desperate era. Yes, we "won" because we saved over 100 million people from certain death and several hundred million people from subjugation and torture. If Japan and Germany had not been defeated, the losses to America (and the rest of the world) would have been remote more substantial. So, in comparison, we did "win."Dont get me wrong Im not an anti-war protestor. I feel there is a certain(prenominal) need for a strong national defense. I feel it is all-important(prenominal) for our country to be able to defend herself. I also think that there is the unfortunate need for the U.S. to defend the oppressed and defenseless of the world. Although I dont like the U.S. being the guardian of the world, there is a moral obligation to protect the defenseless when there is wholesale genocide and torture taking place. Of course, history has sh let us there is a unspoilt way and a wrong way to intervene in foreign problems.The reason I bring this up is because we all have our own private "wars.