War is one of those things most of us only see from a distance, sometimes we read about it in history books, watch it on documentaries or read about the conflicts taking place somewhere far away on the news. It is a bit out of our everyday existence.
However, occasionally I attempt to think of what the actual experience would be like should something even occurs citing the current state of my country Nigeria, or should the world somehow be thrust into another great conflict.
Well, politics or even patriotism would not be the first thing that would enter my mind. I would immediately think of my family.
When that happens, then you get to know very well what is important to you. The initial thought that will come to my mind is to ensure that the individuals who are nearest to me are not harmed. Wars cause confusion, and as things begin to fall apart, transportation, communication, even food supply, the most significant thing is to safeguard the people you love.
The preparation would be my first step.
I would attempt to attain basic needs as soon as possible. Such items as food stocks, water, medicine and other things that families need on a daily basis. Sometimes, when conflict occurs, shortages may occur fast and waiting until it becomes worse is not always the right thing to do.
Information is another aspect that I would emphasize on. Misinformation is easy to spread in case of crisis. Facts travel at a slower pace as compared to rumors. I would attempt to use reliable sources and be conscious of what is actually going on in our midst. It would be quite important to know which regions are safe, which are unstable and what the government is telling citizens to do.
Should the situation get hazardous in my environment, I would contemplate moving my family to a safer place, at least in the short term.
Now, when it comes to joining the army, that’s a difficult question.
Having a lot of people who are passionate about defending their country, that is something I admire. Daring to be in the place of danger in order to serve others is a brave thing. However, simultaneously, people are influenced by war in different ways, depending on their duties in life.
On a personal level, I think that citizens can contribute in numerous ways during crisis times. One does not necessarily need to be at the battlefield to serve his/her country. There are those who offer medical assistance, others assist in logistics, communication, community restoration or just maintaining vital systems.
I suppose that in my situation, my priority would still be to ensure that my family is secure and stable. The war is not just fought on the front lines but it also impacts homes, communities and normal life. It is also responsible to keep your family safe.
No one really desires war at the end of the day. Its devastation seldom leaves anyone unscathed. People lose their homes, disrupt their lives and some of the wounds that can be left behind by the conflict can be passed to generations.
Therefore in case the world was once again faced with another global war my priorities would be straight forward; safeguard my family, keep updated, plan prudently, and assist where I can..
