"For four long years the civilized world was engaged in killing men. Christian against Christian, barbarian uniting with Christians to kill Christians; anything to kill."
During war, it does not matter who is in front of you, all that matters is that you get what you want with survival. There is no ethics, there is no code, do what you must to win. And that is all. Mr. Darrow describes War much more throughout his essay, however he incorporates his theme of war into a new, more profound theme- How school amplifies war. Wars and battles were taught in every school back then and even today, even Sunday school. There is great pride in winning either one. Because of schools, children played war with their friends. A violent life this is, children pretending to be in war from the beginning.
"We read of killing one hundred thousand men in a day. We read about it and we rejoiced in it -- if it was the other fellows who were killed. We were fed on flesh and drank blood. Even down to the prattling babe. I need not tell you how many upright, honorable young boys have come into this court charged with murder, some saved and some sent to their death, boys who fought in this war and learned to place a cheap value on human life."
This is one of my favorite quotes in the speech by Darrow, because it is so breathtaking with truth is spurted out. With all this war teachings since such a young age, no wonder kids kill like its easy. These kids do no appreciate how valuable a life is. And this is not there fault, this is the society's. The society is the one who made the kids so ignorant. This is basically what Darrow argued to the judge at that point. Darrow is so good at connecting points together, that he almost makes you believe that it is the complete and total truth. He makes such valid points that it is almost hard for you to not trust what he says. This is one of the ways Darrow argued in this speech.
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