What is War?

What is War? To the average citizen, it is life and it is death To the oppressed, it is a chance to stand and fight for your rights To the blood thirsty, it's another circumstance in which to kill To the soldier, it's a battle for hearts and minds To the patriot, a tremendous honor To an activist, an enormous injustice To the wise, it's a foolish disagreement To the young, it's a thrilling adventure story To a worrying mother, a protest, a plea, a cry, for their sons to stay To a generation, war is profound But to me, war is the essence of a conscience