From Nero's Banquet to Modern Tragedies

In the quiet corridors of history, Plato's haunting words echo through the ages – "only the dead see the end of the war." For over 3400 years of recorded civilization, our world has been bathed in the blood-stained hues of conflict, with a mere 268 years of elusive peace. The human desire, an intimate yearning for acquisition and power, has propelled nations into destruction, leaving a trail of suffering in its wake.

Today, I woke up early, the morning was just turning chilly and the sun felt nice. I slipped into my bed while thousands lay dead in the fire of dragons. I brewed some coffee and read a nice book while the angry power bombed the entire nation. I tried to avoid the guilt of having a good day and convinced myself that the storming nations, slaughtered kids and the bombed nations were not a few blocks away and certainly not in my balcony

As the sun rises on another day, the shadows of war cast a grim reminder of our collective failure to break the cycle of violence. The Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict stand as contemporary testaments to the relentless pursuit of power at the cost of human lives. The climatic impact, the malnourishment of children, the anguish of women and the elderly – these are the silent victims of wars waged in the name of revenge and, ironically, in the pursuit of peace. Each day, as I follow the news, the horrors escalate, pushing the boundaries of disbelief.The Images not only captures the destruction of buildings but the unraveling of existence, where children's laughter is drowned by the thunderous echoes of airstrikes. These images thrust me into a realm of extreme vulnerability, immersing me in the living hell Palestinians endure. Every pixel pulsates with raw agony, making it impossible to turn away from the brutal truth etched into each frame.

Ceasefires and surrenders may momentarily quiet the thunderous roar of weapons, but the war continues unabated, a relentless storm battering the foundations of humanity. It happens daily, a reel of tragedy unfolding before our eyes, and yet we choose the comfort of our beds, scrolling through the news as if it were just another distant drama.

In the annals of history, the tale of Nero resurfaces, not as a mere anecdote but as a reflection of our complicity in the face of brutality. Nero, the Roman emperor, once organized a grand spectacle, a lavish party where the illumination of his palace came at the cost of human lives. Criminals and prisoners were condemned to the flames, their suffering woven into the fabric of Nero's extravagant display.

My interest lies not in Nero but in his guests, the witnesses to this grotesque carnival of power. What was the mindset that allowed them to revel in such horror? How many raised their voices in protest, and how many were silent accomplices to the cruelty? The answers to these questions reveal uncomfortable truths about our own responses to the wars unraveling before us.

The Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict are not just geopolitical disputes; they are human tragedies, where war crimes unfold in the killing of civilians and innocent lives. The infrastructure, once a symbol of progress, crumbles under the weight of bombs, gunfire and the deads. Yet, we watch in silence, sometimes scrolling through news feeds, detached from the stark realities faced by those living in the war zone.

In the comfort of our beds, we become passive spectators to the plight of civilians striving amidst hunger, witnessing the death of their families. The juxtaposition of our privilege against their suffering demands introspection. Are we Nero's guests, reveling in the spectacle of war, or can we rise above the silence and demand an end to the madness?

The answer lies not in indifference but in acknowledging our shared humanity and collectively advocating for peace. Only then can we hope to defy Plato's grim prophecy and rewrite a narrative where the living, not just the dead, witness the end of war.

AUTHOR

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