WHY DO WARS HAPPEN?
Alex Crawford
war reporter
Wars happen because people don’t talk enough to each other. I have interviewed militant fighters in Afghanistan who hate the West. The West is where I come from – and maybe you. It’s the part of the world that includes Britain and America. Afghanistan is a country where British and American soldiers have been battling Taliban fighters for years. When the Taliban meet me they are astonished because I am often not only the first Westerner they have met but also the first Western woman.
When we start talking about our families and our children and what many people in the West think about them and the war, their whole attitude to me changes. We realise we are not so different and we
probably want the same things. We both want peace.
Mostly wars happen because governments, which take decisions on our behalf, are frightened. A bit like when you are in the playground on your own because your mate is off school and the other ‘gang’ starts calling you names. What do you feel like doing? I bet sometimes you feel like calling them names back. And then when you get into a fight, it’s hard, really hard to be the first one to stop and admit you’re wrong. It’s just the same with different countries.
Reference:
BIG QUESTIONS from Little People . . . and Simple Answers from GREAT MINDS compiled by Gemma Harris
Alex Crawford
war reporter
Wars happen because people don’t talk enough to each other. I have interviewed militant fighters in Afghanistan who hate the West. The West is where I come from – and maybe you. It’s the part of the world that includes Britain and America. Afghanistan is a country where British and American soldiers have been battling Taliban fighters for years. When the Taliban meet me they are astonished because I am often not only the first Westerner they have met but also the first Western woman.
When we start talking about our families and our children and what many people in the West think about them and the war, their whole attitude to me changes. We realise we are not so different and we
probably want the same things. We both want peace.
Mostly wars happen because governments, which take decisions on our behalf, are frightened. A bit like when you are in the playground on your own because your mate is off school and the other ‘gang’ starts calling you names. What do you feel like doing? I bet sometimes you feel like calling them names back. And then when you get into a fight, it’s hard, really hard to be the first one to stop and admit you’re wrong. It’s just the same with different countries.
Reference:
BIG QUESTIONS from Little People . . . and Simple Answers from GREAT MINDS compiled by Gemma Harris
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