The 10 Modes of Discourse, Abridged Version

1. Peace and war are two states of human nature. One is either at peace or war, with themselves or with others. But their similarity ends here. Peace is the state of calmness, war the state of turmoil. Peace is the state of kindness, war the state of cruelty. When peace reigns, life is beautiful. When war reigns, life is hell.

2. War as a whole is an aggressive act of one party to another, but the form in which this manifests itself varies. There is, of course, physical war, fought with guns, grenades, and bombs. But there's also economic war, or a fight to the death between businesses or national economies. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, there's cultural war, the act of destroying another culture and way of life out of sheer arrogance and stupidity.

3. The members in my brigade and I slowly and sullenly prepare for the fight. We all know it's suicide; we're fresh meat to distract the enemy. We're within sight of them; they know this as well. And so our walk becomes a trot, then a jog, then a sprint, than an all-out frenzy. Just when I'm able to discern individual faces, I ask,"What the hell have I gotten myself into?"

4. War is always known for its immediate destruction and collateral damage. But it shouldn't be forgotten that the pangs of war transcend the physical world and often enter the realm of souls, lasting for generations. The little boy who lost all his family in a bomb blast. The girl who's limbs are shredded off her body. The damage may be compensated or alleviated, but it can never be forgotten.

5. After witnessing two wars in my lifetime, as well as having read about countless more, I have come to the conclusion that war, at least the physical kind, must be eradicated from the world. For starters, it's expensive, and sucks away at treasured resources and wealth that could be put to more helpful use. In addition, war, more often than not, leads to animosity and hatred between nations, thus providing more fuel for war. Only by abruptly cutting off this cycle can peace enter earth. But most of all, war disrespects the sanctity and value of human life. Even just one person's demise impacts countless other people, bringing nothing but sorrow and grief.

6. The road to war is very twisted and winding, yet it's filled with many routes for escape. One stumbles into it, but runs out bare-chested. One incident, great or small, creates passions that can run high. And if those flames don't die out, it the exits aren't taken, the path becomes narrower, and the options fall one by one. In the tend, the last recourse is war. To escape out of this road, blood must be offered.

7.War can be mainly described as such. There are at least two sides, maybe even more, and each side wants to have their way no matter what. When disagreement occurs between groups, when patience and civility are abandoned, war comes in to replace their absence. War is indeed the devolution of the human soul, the epitome of failed consensus and sanity. War is the show of beasts and demons. War is the lowest of the lows.

8. Eerie shrieks pierce the sky. The souls of young men float out of their limp, decrepit bodies, freed from their horrid condition. The ground turns redder than the sunset of the horizon, and I twitch at the sight of my fallen comrades, my back hairs rising from anxiety. For the first time I've learned what war truly is. War is loss. War is suffering. War is annihilation. And there's no turning back.

9. War is caused by impatience, hatred, and stupidity. Plain and simple. A group or nation is impatient to listen to the complaints of other parties, full of hatred and ready to vent it out brutally, and stupid enough to allow its emotions to go too far, as well as risk heavy losses and suffering. In the end, war only begets destruction, vengeance, and grief. Plain and simple.

10. War, though broad in nature and definition, can actually be divided into a few main elements. War, of course, involves destruction, whether it's superficial, physical destruction or everlasting emotional scars. War also requires hatred, a cold, cruel desire to slaughter opponents. But most of all, war requires insanity, the willingness to set aside civility and life's comforts, whether for one tour, or eternity.