Violence prevails in our world because it is embedded deep within human nature, held back only by our will to stay civilized. In The War, violence is shown in short outbursts between Stu and the Lipnickis. The Lipnickis use violent behavior with no remorse and morals are a foreign concept to them because their Father abuses them. Later in the story, Stu dares the Lipnickis to dimwitted task of swimming across the water tower in order to keep the tree house. Winning the dare was more about pride than any thing and that is one of war's greatest fuels. Violence thrives in our world by feeding on the pride and nature of men.
War and malevolence eats away and alters the natural behaviors and decisions of human beings. In The War, Steve recalls his encounter with the Vietcong and the traumatic experience of carrying his dying friend back to a rescue helicopter. Steve is characterized by his generosity and selflessness, but contradicts his character when he leaves his friend and tells him to "go with God" in order to escape the battleground. After Steven dies, Stu is left with some of his knowledge. His Dad doesn't want him to fight to defend himself but instead, show love to his enemies. After the Lipnickis storm the tree house and start touching items of sentimental value, Stu decides to wage war despite his Father's wishes. Eventually, the battle ends with much destruction of the tree house and a close call with death for Billy Lipnicki. This shows how the kids lost their sanity for a short time and how disregarding Stevens words lead to war.
There is ultimately one gift that can prevent war and violence and that is love. In the movie, the Lipnickis beat up Stu, ram their car into Steven's car, and Mr. Lipnicki attempts to manhandle Stu. Instead of lashing out in violence against the two Lipnicki's harsh slander, Steven gives them cotton candy. Steven is showing compassion and explains to his son that "they look like they haven't been given anything in a long time". Stu follows in his Father's footsteps later when Billy Lipnicki is passed out in the water tower. He struggles to bring back Billy as he does chest compressions and his sister helps with respiration. Billy gains consciousness and the fighting between the two groups stops which shows how Stu's love for the Lipnickis stopped the war. This proves that love truly is the only cure for war.
Violence is a beast that twists the true nature of mankind and is rooted deep within man. The War shows how violence changes how people act and behave. Violence leads to war which nobody will ever understand because it is uncontrollable and war will never understand mankind because often times, men at war don't know what their intentions are. Love is the only thing that can prevent war, which is amazing because it is intangible, yet priceless. Though some wish for a world of peace, this world will never be free of war as it is a part of mankind.
