In societies caught in the whirlwind of various internal and external conflicts, they become ensnared in a vicious cycle that is exceedingly difficult to break free from. In these societies, the mental state of many citizens becomes turbulent, and they lose maintaining their mental balance, with their speech and behavior escalating tensions and conflicts. Some of this turmoil manifests in the emergence of bellicose and belligerence literature, giving rise to harsh language accompanied by verbal violence. In other words, the sword gives way to the tongue, and instead of using arrows and rifles, cutting and incisive words find wide application.
Current Afghanistan serves as a comprehensive example of a war-torn society ensnared in violence, with a portion of this violence manifesting overtly in the realm of discourse and language. In the realm of writing, a significant number of Afghan citizens, including some educated and relatively prominent figures, resort to words laden with sarcasm and emotional weight, reflecting a form of complex resentment and harm in various ways. For instance, some, without a precise understanding of their adversaries’ background, past, and present, launch vehement attacks, resorting to dogmatism and sweeping judgments rather than critiquing their viewpoints, seeking to undermine their credibility instead. To achieve this, individuals, based on their intellectual and ideological preferences, select literary and verbal arsenals and confront their adversaries. Those with religious inclinations wield words like “infidel,” “heretic,” “hypocrite,” and “atheist,” while those with secular inclinations resort to terms such as “backward,” “ignorant,” “retrogressive,” and “dark-minded.” Others label their opponents as spies, sellouts, Westernized, servants, mercenaries, puppets, and fascists. If one were to compile an inventory of these offensive and aggressive terms, the result might rival the size of specialized dictionaries and lexicons in certain fields.
In reality, for half a century, amid physical and propaganda clashes among various parties and groups, literature of belligerence has become a part of the social and cultural fabric of this land, pushing society towards increased violence, chronic hostilities, and irreparable divisions. This literature significantly erases the grounds for healthy and constructive dialogue while intensifying enmity and animosity. Although born from conflict itself, this literature perpetuates the cycle of futility that results in the emergence of a vicious circle between war and bellicose literature, rendering society helpless to break free from it.
If we intend to find a path to brighter horizons amidst all this darkness, it is inevitable that individuals who possess greater refinement and higher knowledge, while simultaneously feeling a moral commitment to society, take the first step by cleansing their own spoken and written language. In the second step, they should promote distinguished literature infused with decorum and the necessary courtesy among their audience. To put an end to all this hatred and animosity, it is necessary to purify the discourse and written expression from this toxic state and foster a literature that emanates the scent of kindness and solidarity, opening avenues of understanding and cooperation among the inhabitants of one land. The literature on belligerence and verbal violence must come to an end.
