As of March 2026, multiple global conflicts are occurring simultaneously, heating up the political climate. We as Americans have been desensitized to conflict, whether there is United States involvement or not.
On Feb. 28, the United States, alongside Israel, launched a strike against Iran with the intention of demolishing a nuclear program they had previously made promises to forgo. However, these strikes were extremely problematic because President Donald Trump did not receive congressional approval before launching strikes.
In this war, at least 1,443 civilians have been killed in Iran, including 217 children, according to Iran International. One of the most controversial strikes contributing to this statistic was a strike on an all-girls school in Iran, which killed over 168 people, including 100 children. Additionally, 13 American Service members have been killed. What have the American people made of these devastating losses? Insensitive jokes.
I have known that Americans are desensitized to horrific tragedies since the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016. I was 12 years old, and I remember seeing people online make memes out of a disaster that claimed the lives of 49 innocent people and injured 58 more.
This desensitization has become a common theme, even in conflicts that don’t involve us. Recently, World War III has been a looming fear for many Americans, which is a valid concern. However, to make jokes out of something that is a current reality for Iranians, Palestinians, Ukrainians and so many more when we are safe from attacks, is insensitive.
As soon as the war with Iran began, I knew that the jokes would start to flood the internet. I too would laugh at or like the posts making light of these situations, but when you sit back and realize that there are children in the world right now who have to constantly live in fear for their lives because of foolish wars, it isn’t so funny anymore.
The U.S. is one of the safest places to live in terms of war, and to make light of someone else’s reality is a privilege.
Further, talks of World War III almost feel like a fear-mongering tactic at this point. It was used heavily by both candidates in their run for presidency in 2024, and is still used by people online to gain traction.
To live in fear of a war that we have no control over and is not as imminent as we are being told is unfair. The outdated concept of citizens not knowing they were in a world war until it lasted months is invalid. Americans have direct media access in our hands, and instead of looking like previous world wars, it would be nuclear.
Try and place yourself in the shoes of people across the world when sharing posts that make light of a very real situation and try not to let the fear-mongering move you to a point where it controls you.
