During my adolescence, my father took me to see the movie «Spartacus,» which remains a rare memory of our time together at the cinema. He also introduced me to the biography of Abraham Lincoln, a man whose life and principles would leave a lasting impact on me.

Never again Killing Civilians
My father belonged to that unique breed of individuals who taught through actions and character rather than through tedious speeches. He had survived the tumultuous Spanish Civil War, having bravely defended the Republic in the Pyrenean battalion.
Never again Killing Civilians
In bygone eras, warfare often unfolded on open fields, and strategies were deeply intertwined with the lay of the land. Over centuries, civilizations from the Persians to the Mongolians, and even Napoleon’s army, employed tactics that leveraged mountains, rivers, open plains, and forests. There were archers, spearmen, cavalry, and infantry armed with swords and shields. Tragically, these times also witnessed cowardly attacks on villages, resulting in the loss of innocent lives, including women and children.
When my friends and I engage in discussions about our increasingly pessimistic world, my friend Javier often reminds us of the progress humanity has made in terms of overall well-being throughout the centuries. We can’t help but agree with him on this point.

Yet, my anger flares when I realize that contemporary warfare predominantly targets civilians. As Arcadi Oliveras aptly observes, today’s wars consist of young people killing each other while older individuals, safe in their governmental palaces, send them off to battle. It’s deeply troubling to think that two young individuals, under different circumstances, could have been sharing a drink at a university bar instead of trying to harm one another.

The deliberate killing of civilians represents the most barbaric facet of humanity. Whether it occurs through the devastating impact of nuclear bombs, the horrors of chemical gases, or the cruel act of leaving people to perish without food or warmth, it remains an atrocity that should never be repeated.»