A lot of the world’s conflicts could be ended quite quickly
if it wasn’t for all the willing recruits who for one reason or another are
prepared to join up and fight.
Why are they willing to sign up? Why are they ready to be cannon-fodder, ready to risk their lives for some dubious objective?
All sorts of reasons are given for joining up. It’s their patriotic duty, it’s an important cause, it’ll make a man of them, they’ll be looked after, and so on.
I’m very thankful I was born too late to be conscripted. I would almost certainly have been a conscientious objector.
Even if they aren’t killed, they could end up seriously disabled and unable to enjoy life as they used to do. What can be worth that outcome?
Over half a million Russians have died in the cause of territorial expansion. Just think of all the grieving families they leave behind.
Furthermore a lot of veterans are virtually ignored after “serving their country”. They can no longer get the support they need but are left to rebuild their lives as best they can. They feel neglected and discarded. It's shameful.
