A Forgotten Wish in Dragon Ball: Global Peace

Throughout the series, the Dragon Balls in Dragon Ball have granted wishes ranging from personal desires to the resurrection of loved ones. However, one practical and rarely considered wish stands out: wishing for global peace. While many characters pursue power, immortality, or personal gains, a wish for lasting peace would fundamentally change the series and its themes.

Global Peace: A Forgotten Wish

In the vast universe of Dragon Ball, battles and conflicts are a recurring theme. Characters often wish for power and immortality, but a wish for global peace would have far-reaching implications. This wish aligns with the series' themes of friendship and unity but is often overlooked. Why might this be the case?

One reason is that characters are more focused on their immediate desires and personal gains. They tend to make wishes that benefit themselves rather than considering the broader impact of their actions. Additionally, the Dragon Balls' limitations, such as the finite energy and the consequences of granting powerful wishes, play a role.

Ultimate Knowledge vs. Practicality

Watching Dragon Ball as a child sparked my imagination. I often wished for ultimate knowledge—knowing everything about everything, past, present, and future. This desire can be seen as practical because it enables problem-solving and understanding of one's surroundings. However, similar to the characters in the series, I found that satisfying such a wish is not always practical.

The Z Fighters' Practical Wishes

The Z Fighters in Dragon Ball have considered various practical wishes. For example, they have wished for ultimate knowledge, but this was not granted. Characters like Goku and Future Trunks have also wished for the potential to be completely unlocked, becoming the perfect fighters. However, these wishes often come with limitations, such as the finite energy of the Dragon Balls.

Other practical wishes that have been made include:

To be immortal: While immortality was considered, most Z Fighters did not want this wish granted because it would interfere with living a long, happy life. The Dragon Balls also have the limitation of their energy being finite, as seen when Shenron could not grant the wish for Vegeta and Nappa to die. To have Goku be immortal: Goku is seen as the hero, and a wish for his immortality would protect the Earth. Similarly, Kami, who is responsible for the Dragon Balls, could be wished to be immortal to better protect the Dragon Balls. To move humans to New Namek: Future Trunks should have wished for the remaining humans to be moved to New Namek, for the Z Fighters to be resurrected, and for the Earth to be restored and people to return. To become Saiyans: A wish for human Z Fighters to become Saiyans could have drastically altered the power dynamics of the series, but this wish was never granted.

Each of these wishes, while practical, was not granted due to the series' limitations and the characters' individual desires. Despite their appeal, the wish for global peace remains a poignant and overlooked idea in Dragon Ball, one that could have fundamentally changed the series.

Conclusion

While the Dragon Ball series is known for its battles and epic stories, a practical wish for global peace offers a unique perspective. This wish aligns with the themes of friendship and unity but is often overlooked due to the characters' individual desires and the limitations of the Dragon Balls. Reflecting on these wishes and the series as a whole, it is clear that the practicality of a wish is not always the sole determining factor in its realization.