And from what I've heard, a war that could've easily been preventable had the right people been at the right places at the right time.
I don't know about 'completely' pointless. I mean, it certainly wasn't the 'war to end all wars'. But I think it WAS the beginning of a shift in the way we think about war, at least in the West, or at least in the Commonwealth. Remembrance Day, at least where I am, is a somber, serious occasion, dedicated to honouring war dead but also to a pretty significant pacifist sentiment. The day started as Armistice Day, a celebration of peace. Not 'Victory Day', not 'We're All Heroes and the Enemy are Losers Day'. Just 'Thank God That's Over'. And I think that sentiment has lasted. War is now, more or less, seen as a last resort, not as an opportunity for glory and conquest. Sure, we have more work to do, but I really think we're getting there. And I think WW I, with its graphic horror, was a turning point in the dominant attitude. So... mostly pointless. Would have been wonderful if we could have figured this out without killing so many people. But maybe not completely pointless...
There certainly have been benefits, both socially and with technology. I just mean what they were fighting for. I mean, yeah, the protection of France, noble, but the German attack itself was pointless, really. The whole damn thing had no immediate purpose other than leaders keeping their word.
I like what Blackadder said about it. Two vast opposing armies, each acting as the other's deterrent, and in that there could never be a war. The only problem is it was bollocks.
