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Jessica Klingler

Mrs. Entrekin

American Art History

12/07/ 2018

All is Fair in Love and War

The phrase “ All is fair in love and war” was first found in the novel “Frank

Fairlegh” by Frank E. Smedley in 1850, which describes situations in which people

would not obey the normal rules to achieve their objective. Surprisingly, this phrase is

totally wrong in both love and war. The definition of fairness is “achieving something

without unjust advancement” but how can one define fairness in a civil war, where all of

the involved people are from the same nation? To be able to come together after war

peacefully, some laws should be implemented in battle. Also athe communication and

healthcare systems should not be manipulated.

Because health care and communications systems were being manipulated and

overlooked by the differents sides, the American Civil War is an example of an unjust

war. This war was known as the first modern war because of many reasons, one of

which was the first rapid health care and taking the injured into the hospitals. Sadly

many accounts tell how the Northerners would oftentimes die because their injuries

were not being looked at on time because they never got to a hospital since the battle

was fought in the south. Demonstrating how the Northerners were not being helped by

the health care of the South. many lives were lost. Additionally, manipulating of the

newspapers took place in this war. This provided false information to civilians about

family members that may have been attacked because of these actions. When the
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government tried to get more volunteers, families were manipulated by the newspapers

and would not know what's going on with their husband, father or son. To avoid these

actions to happen some laws have to be implemented to know what is fair or unfair.

Wars have caused for the implantation of the international humanitarian law,

which should also be applied to civil wars because they protect the citizens, soldiers

and guarantee a peaceful unity afterwords. Mandatorily, the laws make it clear that all

soldiers should be provided healthcare, and therefore the hospital and their staff should

not be attacked. Also it focuses on not harming citizens in any way, which includes not

poisoning foods and drinks. Maintaining these laws will help to have a peaceful and

respectful life together after war. Since this law is from an outside source that has

nothing to do with the conflict, it is more efficient because it will be neutral and judge the

situation fairly. Therefore, not everything is fair in love and war because if the involved

parties in the conflict judge the situation, it going to be for their benefit and not for the

protection of everyone.