2021大学英语四级美文赏析：War思维导图

Somepessimistichistoriansthinkthewholesocietyofmanrunsincyclesandthatoneofthephasesiswar.Theoptimists,ontheotherhand,thinkwarisnotlikeafloodoraspellofbadweather.Theybelievethatitismorelikeadiseaseforwhichacurecouldbefoundifthecausewereknown.Becausewaristheultimatedramaoflifeanddeath,storiesandpicturesofitaremoreinterestingthanthoseaboutpeace.Thisissotruethatallofus,andperhapsthoseofusontelevisionmorethanmost,areoftencaughtupintheactionofwartotheexclusionoftheideasofit.

Ifitistrue,aswewouldliketothinkitis,thatourageismorecivilizedthanagepast,wemustallagreethatit’sverystrangethatinthetwentiethcentury,wehavekilledmorethan70millionsofourfellowmenonpurpose,atwar.Probablythereasonweareabletodoboth—thatis,believeontheonehandthatwearemorecivilizedandontheotherhandwagewartokill—isthatkillingisnotsopersonalanaffairinwarasitoncewas.

Theenemyisinvisible.Onemandoesn’tlookanotherintheeyeandkillhimwithasword.Theenemy,deadoralive,islargelyunseen.Heiskilledbyremotecontrol:aloudnoise,adistantpuffofsmokeandthen...silence.Thepicturesofthevictim’swifeandchildren,whichhecarriesinhisbreastpocket,aredestroyedwithhim.

Heisnotheardtocryout.Thequestionofcompassionorpityorremorsedoesnotenterintoit.Theenemyisnotaman,heisastatistic.Itistrue,too,thatmorepeoplearebeingkilledatwarnowthanpreviouslybecausewe’rebetteratdoingitthanweusedtobe.Onemanwithonemodernweaponcankillthousands.