People try to glorify war, particularly those who aren't

"People try to glorify war, particularly those who aren’t actually fighting in them. People tend to make heroes of those who are fighting in them." These words, spoken by John Boyne, pierce through the veil of romanticism and myth that often surrounds war. We are often told stories of heroic battles, of men who rise to the challenge of conflict and emerge as symbols of strength and courage. But Boyne’s words are a call to truth, to understand that war is not a glorified path to glory, but a brutal reality that crushes the spirit and leaves scars that are not so easily erased.

In the minds of those who have never stood on the frontlines, it is easy to make heroes out of those who fight. We speak of bravery, of sacrifice, of the eternal glory that comes with defending one’s country. Yet, what is often forgotten is that those who engage in battle are not simply men of valor—they are human beings, thrust into a hellish crucible of violence, suffering, and despair. They are not the gleaming figures of myth, but the broken bodies and fractured souls who bear the weight of war’s true cost. Boyne reminds us that the glorification of war is a dangerous fiction, one perpetuated by those who have never truly known its horrors.

Consider the story of Wilfred Owen, one of the greatest poets of World War I. He did not glorify the war, but instead exposed its ugliness through his haunting verse. His famous poem, "Dulce et Decorum Est," tells of a soldier’s final moments as he is struck by poison gas, his body wracked with agony. The title of the poem is a cruel irony, as the Latin phrase means, “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.” Owen’s words rip apart the illusion of glory in war, showing instead the pain, the fear, and the suffering that soldiers endure. He reveals that those who glorify war have never truly witnessed its brutality. To him, the true horror of war lies not in the battle itself, but in the way it is distorted by those who have never fought.

And yet, the myth of the heroic soldier persists. During the Second World War, people across the globe were swept up in the fervor of nationalism and patriotism. Soldiers were cast as heroes, and their sacrifices were celebrated, their stories passed down through generations. But in truth, many of these soldiers were not seeking glory—they were simply ordinary men, thrust into extraordinary circumstances. For every soldier who fought bravely, there were countless others who carried with them the deep psychological scars of the things they had seen and done. D-Day, that pivotal moment in the battle for Europe, was not won through glory but through the overwhelming courage of men who knew they might not return from the shores they landed upon. It was not a moment of triumph, but one of grim survival.

In the same way, we see the glorification of war in modern conflicts. Those who are far from the frontlines, who watch from a safe distance, often treat war as a distant spectacle. They speak of victory and honor, without truly understanding the cost paid by those who fight. The media, the politicians, the armchair generals—they romanticize war, turning it into a game where there are clear winners and losers. But the men and women who fight in these wars know the truth. They know that war is not about honor; it is about survival, about sacrifice, and about the devastation of the human spirit. The true cost of war is not measured in battles won, but in lives destroyed, in minds shattered, and in the scars left on the hearts of those who endure.

Thus, O children of the future, let us take this lesson to heart. War is not to be glorified. It is a curse upon humanity, a force that brings suffering to all, regardless of the side one fights for. The heroes of war are not the ones who march to battle with swords raised high, but those who endure the torment of the battlefield and return, broken but unbowed. True bravery lies not in the pursuit of glory, but in the will to survive in the face of unimaginable suffering. Let us remember that those who glorify war are often those who have never known its true cost, and that the true lesson of war is not one of heroism, but one of humility, compassion, and a deep desire for peace.

Let us not fall into the trap of glorifying the horrors of war. When we speak of soldiers, let us honor their sacrifice and the weight they bear, but let us also remember the price they pay. Let us seek peace, and let our actions in times of conflict be guided by the understanding that war is not a path to glory, but a tragedy to be avoided at all costs. The true heroes are not those who fight, but those who work to prevent war, to seek understanding and compassion where others would seek conflict. Take this lesson, O children, and carry it forward, that future generations may one day know a world where the horrors of war are but a distant memory.