And yes War has existed since before humans existed. Goes to show you that it cant be very effective if we need to keep doing it so often. =)
War is rather unfortunate, yet I would assert that if there's nothing a man is willing to fight for, he is a pitiful creature indeed, for that man has nothing that is truly of value. Sometimes the reasons for war are good, other times they are bad. Hatred, jealousy, greed, intolerance, arrogance - these are the unfortunate negative concepts that may result in a war. Yet there's also positive notions such as desire for freedom or peace that can result in one going to war. I know fighting for peace might sound an oxymoron, but the fact is there's people out there who won't let good people have their peace(Hitler and the like). There's also the ever fuzzy and blurred concepts that go between good and bad reasons for war - justice for instance, or love(love of someone else, love for one's country or patriotism), sorrow.
But no matter what, war is always the result of when people can not or are unwilling to settle, accept, or at the very least tolerate their differences. Sometimes you can't allow yourself to tolerate the differences, and hopefully whenever that is done you do so rationally and with a heavy heart. War is never a good thing, but unfortunately at times may be necessary.
"Weapons are the tools of violence;
all decent men detest them.
Weapons are the tools of fear;
a decent man will avoid them
except in the direst necessity
and, if compelled, will use them
only with the utmost restraint.
Peace is his highest value.
If the peace has been shattered,
how can he be content?
His enemies are not demons,
but human beings like himself.
He doesn't wish them personal harm.
Nor does he rejoice in victory.
How could he rejoice in victory
and delight in the slaughter of men?
He enters a battle gravely,
with sorrow and with great compassion,
as if he were attending a funeral."
Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
