No matter the time period, that seems a common sentiment in war--joining up only to find out your motivations for doing so have been betrayed.

I'm woefully undereducated on the situation over there to comment on any of that, but the writing was pretty good and the guy's speech was hella dramatic. It's not really furry fiction, but t'was a good read.

Also welcome to the prompt!!! I look forward to reading future stuff from ya.

Thank you soooooo soooo much for reading!
Yea, it is true. War is a ridiculous thing, many things have been telling us that but we don't seem to learn.
I'm not really in a position to comment on the matter myself, neither, for I know only just a little more than you do. I did this because really I only found an idea to write when considering "Side" as its definition in "Pick a side". Hence I ended up writing this. I myself paused more than once writing this thinking I'm not really fit to do this :(. I am hardly a historian and trying to imagine an outcome for a future event is not what I should be doing. Still, it's what came to mind, it's fictional, so I did it anyway.
Thanks a lot for the hospitality and the feedback! You cannot imagine what this means for me! I'll try my best to keep up with the prompts! :)

Best part about the prompt is that people actually read each other's stuff. As ya probably know, that's a rare thing. I hope you enjoy it! Try not to stress too much if you end up having to miss a prompt or two. I myself have missed the last four or so.

Alrighty then! No pressure. Yea, I get the "nobody's gonna bother to read your crap" feeling. Frankly, I feel like that sometimes too, but I'll overcome it. I shall check out yours and the others work tomorrow. Thanks a lot bud.

The reasons you cited for joining the military hit very close to home. A desire for stability, respect, the regrettably effective propaganda that all countries seem to put out. And of course, above all else, to defend our countries and the people we love. You explored all these ideas very effectively, all leading up to one of the better speeches I've read recently. Very powerful stuff.

Showing these universal emotions is so important, especially when many people on all sides are conditioned to villainize the others. From one person on one side of the divide to another, I salute you.

Also, welcome to the prompt! Very much looking forward to reading more from you in the future ^^

Thank you so much! I'll try to keep up with the prompt.
I know quite little about military life so I'm surprised I actually got it right. Guess it's similar all around the world.
And yeah...frankly I'm pretty sick of the villainization stuff, we do that quite subtly here. I mean, on a personal level, those on the other side has never done anything to offend you, yet under the manipulation there somehow arise in us an unreasonable enmity. It's as if it's all a big misunderstanding. As they say, the people are kind, those who rule are not.

The fact that it's similar all around the world gives me hope, honestly. Goes a long way towards humanizing each other, which is maybe the only way to avoid all this needless death and destruction.

Your last words are very well said. Another universal truth; though this time an unfortunate one. Another reason that work like yours which communicates that innate kindness across barriers is so important.

A very poignant critique of warfare and the nationalism that pervades conflict, I find the rant Simon goes on to be very reminiscient of other antiwar messages, especially All Quiet on the Western Front, where the idea of being almost "tricked" into joining the army very similar.

War is just about never justified, from studying history, any of the aims or goals rarely justify the horrific death and destruction that always entails, and without even depicting any of it, you're able to expertly condem it, well done in my opinion!

Oh and welcome to the prompt!! Interested in future works!

Thank you for the hospitality! I agree, war won't ever be justified. Personally, I find the thought of you attempting to destroy an other person you have never met and hence have no feud over anything at all, or indeed you could even have befriended the person dropping the circumstances, terrifying and incomprehensible.
But again, I still know too little about the world, and there is much to learn. Thank you again! Feels nice to connect with someone who feels the same.

Speaking about my country though. China doesn't really have any form of antiwar education. Quite the contrary, we actually sing songs of praises for our past wars. Sure, they were in defense of our people, either against imperialism or feudalism, and yes, I highly respect and am in gratitude for those who very selflessly sacrificed themselves to lay the foundations of what we are today, but all we do is sing, and it becomes all too easy to forget what war really is. And many around me have. They think war is tolerable or even great if it is raged with good reason. We forgot the price and it is too great for anything. We praise those who fear no death, yet in modern combat it is different. Lives may not build victory, only greater loss and pain.

Very nicely done. How I wish the governments of the world would learn this lesson.

Vix

Thank you!

Interesting and cool work

Thanks a lot!

A heartfelt story, hopefully as you say it will not come to pass. It's the leaders who decide to make war but all too often the people are far too willing to go along.