Assignment 9- Lauren Chatfield

Since the beginning of time, conflict has been seen as inevitable. And, while I do believe this is true, I am most definitely not the first to say our species is absolutely awful at handling conflict. My opinion as to whether or not war is justified is a little hazy as a war involves so many people and my small opinion could never end that. However, to dumb this down for myself I think of fighting.

At Henry Clay, fights seem to be all too common. While our hallways aren't as violent as I assume other high schools are, they are still not free of fighting. Whenever I hear of a fight I can't help but think "Why are they so dumb???!??!???" It baffles me how these ridiculous it is that boys and girls will actually hit each other over things that a calm conversation could fix.

Now, I am not saying that a fight in the halls of Henry Clay is equal in scale to a war between nations. I am saying, though, that a fight in the halls of Henry Clay is the closest I have personally been to seeing opposing sides inflict physical harm on one another to prove a point. When fights do occur though, the people involved tend to say it was worth it and now there is "no beef." While in war, the physical harm is far greater than a black eye, if fighting a war is what it takes to heal relations between nations, I'm not sure how opposed to it I am. I am not oblivious to the fact that wars typically do not do this. I wish I could propose an alternative that would satisfy the fight angry countries are looking for a when a conversation just isn't enough.

When I started writing this, I didn't know my opinion. I was hoping by the end I would but I am still quite unsure. I don't agree with war and obviously I wish it didn't happen but I am afraid fighting and aggression are so ingrained in the human mind that we are unable to avoid it.