Diverse ways exist by which to wage a war. The idea that miitary attacks of any kind should not be mounted with the aim of killing “ortdinary” people is quite modern.
According to the Old Testament, the Jewish people entering Palestine were given the licence by their god to mercilessly smite “hip and thigh” all members of the tribes whose territory they were invading. For this to be done, an excuse would always be discovered about the peoples who happened to be victims of such agression, in that they were to be deemed wicked and justifiably had to be wiped out.
Persians, Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans and all those who came in their wake followed this same approach as much as they could. Closer to our times, the concept got changed somewhat. A distinction crept in between civilians and combattants. The latter could be killed, the former needed to be protected as much as possible from hurt.
The invention of airplanes undermined that convention. Bombs dropped on cities from the skies would induce such terror among populations that wars could be won or lost on its basis. The distinction between a criminal and a legitimate act of war seems to have gotten blurred again. And within that same bracket of change, missiles can now be used alongside bombers to destroy cities.
***
GEOGRAPHIC REALITIES
It’s very natural that enthusiasts seek to extend the practice of what they delight in to within the wide perimeter of where they live with their family. But there are physical realities defining their situation that cannot be ignored or downplayed.
One cannot practise skiing on ice in mid-Sahara as if one were close to Mont Blanc. One cannot expect to go diving as if in the Mediterranean while living in a landlocked country like say, Switzerland.
Similarly those who live in a small territory, cannot really indulge in sports which need to be organized over a wide expanse of territory. Or whoever lacks forests or jungles (if there still exist such stretches of land) can hardly insist to proceed on a big game safari while at home, as if forests and jungles are close by.
***
THE DEATH OF NEWSPAPERS
Newspapers as we knew them are dying out. That’s the lament jointly made by three of us who met casually in a European Parliament corridor. I triggered the story by commenting about how at the EP’s Press Shop, the availability of daily newspapers had dipped.
At one point we mentioned how “in the past”, one would start one’s daily routine by reading through newspapers smelling of papers and perhaps, ink as well. It is true that today one can still read them online – or some, those namely that have survived. Which means you can get to them from practically anywhere. Still, it is not the same experience as “before”.
I didn’t know so well these two colleagues met on such a strange one-off occasion but I realised they could not classify, like I do, as older than the hills! Ours was therefore not just like a nostalgic lament at an old people’s home after all.
Beyond the talk that runs on and on, not always transparently, about the independence of the “free” media, there is an awareness that today’s online journalism still lacks some vital quality.