A war is a horrible thing, but it's also a unifier of countries.

O children of the future, gather and listen well to the words of Clint Eastwood, a man who has seen the brutal realities of war not only in the role of a character on screen, but through the lens of life itself. He speaks thus: "A war is a horrible thing, but it's also a unifier of countries." These words, spoken with the wisdom of one who has witnessed both the destruction of war and the strength of unity, offer a deep and unsettling truth about the nature of human conflict. War, as Eastwood reflects, is both a destroyer and a creator, a paradox that has shaped the destiny of nations since the dawn of time.

Let us first understand the meaning of these words. War is, by its very nature, a tragedy—an endless cycle of violence, suffering, and death. No one who has stood upon the battlefield can deny the horrific toll it takes upon the bodies and souls of those who fight, and upon the lands they leave behind. In this sense, Eastwood's acknowledgment of war as a "horrible thing" is a recognition of the suffering it causes, of the lives shattered by the brutality of conflict. War, in this light, is not a heroic pursuit, but a deep and sorrowful wound in the fabric of civilization, a wound that is never easily healed.

Yet, despite the destruction, Eastwood reminds us of the irony of war: it is also a unifier of countries. When nations go to war, they often find themselves coming together, rallying behind a common cause. The external threat that war presents—whether it is an invading army, a tyrannical force, or an ideological enemy—often leads to a unity among people who, in times of peace, might have been divided by their differences. World War II, for example, saw nations that had once been at odds—like the United States and the Soviet Union—coming together to fight a common enemy. The war forged alliances that were unimaginable in peacetime, as nations cast aside their internal divisions and focused on a shared goal: victory.

Consider the ancient story of the Greek city-states, which, for much of their early history, were fragmented by competition and infighting. The very fabric of Greece seemed to tear itself apart with rivalry and discord. Yet, when the Persian Empire threatened to overwhelm the Greek world, the city-states put aside their differences and united in the face of a common enemy. The Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, and later the Battle of Salamis, were victories not of one city-state, but of a unified Greece. In this moment, the Greek states found strength in their unity, and despite the cost of war, they emerged with a renewed sense of national identity and purpose.

In a more recent example, we see the power of war to unite in the aftermath of the American Civil War. The brutal conflict, which tore the nation apart, ultimately led to the reunification of the United States. After years of bloodshed, the North and South came together under the banner of the Union, and the country began the long and painful process of reconstruction. Though the wounds of the Civil War did not heal easily, the war forced a reckoning with the nation’s identity and brought about the abolition of slavery. It was a tragedy, yes, but it also forged a new sense of national unity that would shape the future of America.

Yet, as Eastwood's words remind us, the unification that war brings comes at an immense cost. Victory in war often leaves behind deep scars, and those who survive are often left to rebuild from the rubble of their losses. This is the tragedy of the unifying force of war—it creates bonds, yes, but it does so through a foundation of bloodshed and suffering. Even in victory, nations find that the cost of their unity is a price that must be paid for generations. The true test is not only in how nations unite, but in how they rebuild and move forward after the war is over.

So, O children, what is the lesson we must take from Eastwood’s words? The truth is both humbling and sobering: while war can unite nations, it does so through a crucible of suffering and destruction. Unity born of conflict is not the same as peace born of understanding. Unity must not be sought through the flames of war, but through the bonds of compassion and shared purpose. The greatest strength of any nation lies not in the ability to wage war, but in its ability to find common ground, to unite in the face of peace, and to build a future not of division, but of solidarity.

Therefore, O children, take this lesson to heart: in your own lives, seek to build unity through understanding, not through conflict. Let the bonds that bind you together be woven from threads of compassion, wisdom, and respect, not from the ashes of war. And if you must face conflict, let it be the internal struggle to overcome division and hatred, so that the unity you find is forged not in the heat of battle, but in the light of shared humanity. Remember, true strength is found not in the victory of war, but in the peace that follows.