Letters | Millennials of the world are just not that into war

Readers discuss the younger generation’s position on conflict, and the Cayman Island’s commitment to tax cooperation

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A protester speaks to soldiers during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd in Hollywood on June 2, 2020. The US army did not meet its recruiting target in 2022. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:30am, 1 Mar 2023

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The US army just had one of its worst recruitment years in decades. Some right-wing demagogues tried to blame the woke movement, but the army clarified that the younger generation’s concerns over personal safety were a bigger hurdle.

As a proud millennial speaking confidently on behalf of our generation and the one after, let me make it abundantly clear: we have no intention whatsoever of dying, especially when engaging in pitiful wars.

We see humanity as a whole and feel no need to resort to bullets to overcome our differences, which we would rather take as part and parcel of living in culturally rich societies. The only use of weapons we condone is within the context of the video games we grew up playing, although we have a clear understanding of how games are different from reality.

Conflict, like the war in Ukraine, is simply appalling to us. The architect of those atrocities is struggling to find a face-saving solution after enlisting his fellow countrymen. The said conflict will not be resolved, in my opinion, without concessions from both sides. Nonetheless, some punishment must be administered to deter wars.

Another subject that deserves some attention relates to the Taiwan Strait. Growing up in Europe, I didn’t even hear about this tense situation, despite the Chinese government’s long-standing position that it would take Taiwan by force if necessary. So what’s changed? Without getting into the merit of the dispute, I believe there has been a lot of propaganda from the West heightening the matter.