When is a war not a war? It’s when those in charge decide not to call it a war, even after previously calling it a war many times. Also, there’s a Congress that has been unwilling to authorize it. Now it’s called a “conflict,” a “special military operation,” or, according to President Trump, it’s “small potatoes.”
Of course, I’m referring to the ongoing six-month war with Iran. While there is currently a lull in military action, the conflict has by no means been settled. And it’s definitely not “small potatoes,” with the billions of U.S. dollars spent fighting, the injuries to U.S. soldiers, and, most importantly, the lives lost of eighteen U.S. soldiers.
All that can be considered a part of fighting a war. But what about those not directly involved? On the first day of the war, February 28, a U.S. Tomahawk missile struck an elementary school in Minab, Iran. Of course, it was unintentional, but 156 civilians were killed, and even more tragically, 120 were children.
Yes, this is one of the unfortunate things about combat. Sometimes innocent people get hurt or killed. It’s just part of war. The technical term used is collateral damage. Collateral damage is defined (Thanks, AI) as “unintended harm that occurs during military operations, especially harm to civilians or civilian property. Although the phrase can sound technical or impersonal, it refers to real human consequences: deaths, injuries, destroyed homes, damaged schools, disrupted hospitals, and long-term trauma in communities affected by war.”
But collateral damage is not just confined to military conflicts. We see it, and it’s not just in that extra dollar a gallon for gas you’re having to pay because of the Iran war. We often see, and probably have experienced, “unintended harm” in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
I thought about that type of collateral damage recently while teaching a Sunday School class. The lesson was about King David in the Old Testament. David was a great king and did great things for the people of Israel. As a matter of fact, the Bible refers to David as “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22).
But David sinned greatly and had an affair with Bathsheba. Out of that affair came collateral damage that affected many, some tragically, and eventually had an effect on the future of the nation. Bathsheba became pregnant, and David tried to hide it, ultimately having her husband, Uriah, killed in battle. Other soldiers were needlessly killed in the battle that took Uriah’s life. There would end up being conflict and division in David’s family, much stemming from the aftermath of the affair, for generations until the breakup of the kingdom.
Did David intend for his misstep to have such a long-ranging impact? Of course, he didn’t. That’s why collateral damage is “unintended harm.” But people were hurt and the future of a nation was impacted.
A drug addict or an alcoholic will tell you that they don’t intend to hurt those around them. But they do, as families and friends try to deal with their choices and actions. Like David, a spouse’s infidelity can cause unintended harm today and in the future.
The poet, John Donne, wrote, “No man is an island.” Who you are and what you do does have an effect on others. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Instead of unintended harm, let’s aim for intentional good and for a positive impact on those around
us. And, as far as Iran is concerned, let’s hope for no more collateral damage, like what happened at the school, and a positive end to whatever this thing is called.