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Challenge #02442-F252: Free Will by internutter

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· @internutter ·
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Challenge #02442-F252: Free Will
![canstockphoto198825.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaBDo3iyyHJaYFRVFTw3vRwU7du4DFS9tgFAdd63CyYav/canstockphoto198825.jpg)

> When humans went to war in the past, they created weapons that can kill their enemies quickly and painlessly. As such they banned weapons and ammunition like hollow point bullets, flamethrowers, and any weapons that don’t kill humans as quickly as possible. -- Anon Guest

They say war never changes. They lie. What actually never changes is the depths to which combattants will sink to in order to gain a victory -any kind of victory- over the other side. Germ warfare is as old as the ability to fling a corpse over some fortified walls, or to leave one upstream of the besieged city's water supply. Murdering the innocent and unarmed is even older than that.

In war, more civilians die than any number of soldiers. They remain uncounted because they are civilians. They aren't important to the movers and shakers who create the wars in the first place. In war, there are terms of combat and the main battle is in seeing which side decides to ignore those first. Or which side can create a supremely vile weapon which wasn't discussed in the original terms of combat. New and more disgusting or horrifying ways to end the opposing forces.

First, of course, was germ warfare. Predating even the germ theory of disease dispersal. Next, came an assortment of attacks on supply chains. Burning the fields, diverting the water, or addicting the populace to debilitating drugs. Following that came mass poison. Adulterating the water supply has always been popular, but when they discovered how to adulterate the _air_. Gas attacks became the new terror. From there, things could only escalate.

Mustard gas. Nerve gas. Aerosolized pathogens. Humanity, especially, goes out of its way to kill the populace but leave the infrastructure intact. It's not about killing quickly, any more, to make certain that the other soldier doesn't get up to kill you or your friend. It's about spreading fear.

Terror has been weaponised. Ignorance and misinformation work hand in hand to spread ideas like a plague. Falsehoods like The Great Replacement, or the idea that the Other is also a terrorist, or the fear of the Thug who is not like a proper, upstanding citizen like yourself. Of course _you're_ a proper, upstanding citizen. You're not one of _Them_. In order to prove that you're not one of _Them_, nor sympathise with _Them_, you repeat the horrible untruths to all your friends, lest they get infected with Themness.

So an ideology may spread, and suddenly perfectly nice people think it's okay to massacre everyone in a primary school, a place of worship, a gathering of the devout, a shopping mall... all because there were too many of _Them_ going there. As for the innocent bystanders? Well... they can't have been _that_ innocent, as they were tolerating the presence of _Them_.

With war sinking to the level of memetically-propagated hatred, it is harder and harder to end. Radicalisation of the citizenry leads to the destruction of historical monuments when people aren't available to slaughter. Without a past, the radicals can make the future into anything they like.

Hatred is the true poison. Not just in the air, but in the words we speak. In the ideas we believe. We don't even have a way to detect it, nor to erase its presence once it's got in. Hatred is the toxin without a decent cure, without a recovery rate... without a hope.

Hatred erases rationality. Hatred makes excuses. Hatred deceives the hater into believing that they are strong, that they are right, that they are fighting for their very way of life when, in fact, little such threat exists.

Hatred _lies_.

Fight it if you can. Choose peace. Choose to help your neighbour. Choose to assist. Choose the light.

Despite what hatred tells you, there is always a choice.

[Image <a href="https://www.canstockphoto.com">(c) Can Stock Photo / Paul_Cowan</a>]

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@curie ·
Congrats on a Curie vote!
Hi internutter,
<div class="pull-right">
https://steemitimages.com/DQmXgrYG8AKimJKRSu2urPB5SPcftN6GCGx2gVJJMwBkuTu/Curie%20Logo%2075px.png
</div>
This post  has been upvoted by the Curie community curation project and associated vote trail as exceptional content (human curated and reviewed).  Have a great day :) <br>
 
Visit <a href="http://curiesteem.com/">curiesteem.com</a> or join the <a href="https://discord.gg/G6RPUMu">Curie Discord community</a> to learn more.
πŸ‘  
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@delishtreats ·
I've been thinking about why people choose hate and violence instead of love and understanding for so many times. It makes me sad to see what is happening in this world and that it's getting worse day by day. This should be discussed more and this is why I'm grateful that you bring up this topic!

Thank you and have a lovely day!
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@iamsaray ·
Hello! A pleasure β™‘

I have reflected with your article, it is very deep but it makes me doubtful that if we want absolute peace there will always be war for the love of carrying loved ones, if something happens to loved ones the war starts, it is inevitable but that is how we act human beings, excellent reflection
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@ryivhnn ·
> Choose peace. Choose to help your neighbour. Choose to assist. Choose the light.

Light's too bright sometimes (especially if you're one of my Wraith characters ;D).  Seriously though this is sensible and logical (even to me who apparently runs on a deviant logic set) so I really don't understand why people turn into shrieking angry haters (I do try).

<center>https://technonaturalist.net/sites/default/files/styles/sensible_display/public/art/2017/11/goatsig-t.png?itok=Ml3FDq7c</center>
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@internutter ·
It's an ideological warping I'm _still_ trying to work out so I can maybe defuse it. Then pass the hints and tips onto everyone else who wants to do that.
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