Enemy without Symbolism

History of human race is a history of war. I think the saying is extremely well described. People experience numerous drama during wars, and the accumulation of such experiences compose something we call culture. The experiences during the war is usually most compelling, and people tend to feel sympathetic when sharing such experiences with the others.

However, I must bring forward my doubt: Is there a real war, or battle, in modern times?

People who watch football or boxing matches enjoy watching them by being emotionally involved to either of the participants and feel as if they were on the pitch (or on the mat). The situation is quite unique because the audience is placing themselves to somewhere very far from the danger of the battle itself.

In addition, whatever the show, whether it is football or boxing, it is not a battle. They are only acts that resemble battles. There are people these days who name these acts as "battle," and starting to believe watching such act is also an act of battle. Such a mentality must have grown because in modern days, people are beginning to lose the symbolism of their enemies they confront inside themselves.

Years back, we used to confront the national government and its authorities. The existence of police riot force, possessed a symbol--violence. Therefore, we, the people who had confronted the riot police on the streets, accumulated feelings with reality by confronting them, eventually growing a culture. I am not really sure how it has begun to change, but now, it seems, violence, which had been the symbol of riot police representing the national government, is now lost as a symbol.

I believe when power becomes "virtual," so do the people who confront them.

This is how the saying "The history of human race is a history of war," lost its reality. I am not sure whether this great phrase will ever regain its true reputation.