PEACE IS UPON US!
While serving on the U.S. Army Staff at the Pentagon during the Cold War several years ago, it was calculated that there were approximately 75 insurgencies, revolutions, tribal battles and other violent disruptions occurring on a daily basis across the globe. It was clearly a very violent world; a world at that time where all manner of mayhem was practiced and thousands were killed every week.
FAREED ZAKARIA
Fareed Zakaria, a writer for Newsweek, has published a fascinating book titled “The Post American World”.
In his book he suggests that the world today may look very dangerous but, in fact, it is peaceful and calm. He goes on to say that Fred Burr and a team of scholars at the University of Maryland have tracked the data of violence very carefully and have come to this conclusion:
“The general magnitude of global warfare has decreased by 60% since the mid-1980’s and at the end of 2004 fell to its lowest level since the 1950’s.”
Zakaria also points out that Harvard professor Steven Pinker argues that:
“Today we are probably living in the most peaceful time in the history of our species.”
The chances of dying of a consequence of organized violence of any kind are getting lower and lower. The data reveal a broad trend away from wars among major countries; the kind of conflict that produces heavy casualties.
Zakaria goes on to say---Islamic terror, which makes the headlines daily, is a large and persistent problem but one involving a small number of fanatics. It feeds on the dysfunction of the Muslim world, the sense of real and imagined humiliation at the hands of the West, and easy access to technologies of violence. And yet, it does not rank as a threat on the order of Germany’s drive for world domination or Soviet expansionism or Mao’s effort to foment war and revolution across the third world.
In view of man’s long standing proclivity for war, no one can say that the peace trend will continue. However, I am hopeful that mankind is beginning to see the absolute futility of war.
THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE
But since the statistics described above show a slow-down in constant and widespread murder and warfare, I ask does this breakout of peace have any effect on the run for the office of president? If we are moving toward a more peaceful world, is Senator McCain relevant today? Or is this just a temporary slow down in violence and will we ultimately need the Senator?
But hold it—wait a moment---because now we have the President of Iran mumbling about blockading the straits of Hormuz. This would send oil to $400.00 a barrel and gas to $12.00 a gallon. Would it also lead us to violence and war? I would imagine so. Does this kind of threatening talk make Obama irrelevant? Is he tough enough to face this tense and potentially violent situation? I hope so and I note that during his visit to Afghanistan, he said that 7,000 more soldiers are needed there to bring calm to the area. Was this a political statement to out flank Mc Cain or is he serious in making this tough and serious statement?
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Are we really moving toward a more peaceful world? Where does the truth lie? The concept of world wide warfare is now outdated and these conflicts, as well as countless insurgencies and revolutions, are relics of the past. They may have fallen victim to globalism.
As for peace, and for what it is worth, I see it this way: Statistically the world is getting safer, but in the details of every day life there is still much violence or potential violence to be concerned about. Oil is a precious commodity and we have fought and will fight to control it. We must have our gasoline and it must be cheap and our insatiability will continue to translate into violence, if need be. This sensitive area could be an impediment to peace.
If the recent trend of laying people off by the thousands every month continues, due to outsourcing and economic conditions, we could see a massive reaction in the form of riots here in the USA. The elitists, the senior politicians, the so-called “leaders” of America, are out of touch. They do not understand the impact of the rise in the cost of a quart of milk, a loaf of bread, a pound of beef and a gallon of gas. They must wake up to reality and begin to understand that the masses must be appeased or there will be trouble. The French Revolution is a good example of the people taking charge because of tough times. America’s leaders must examine and react to the possibility of this potential phenomenon and give Americans hope; especially economic hope.
While serving on the U.S. Army Staff at the Pentagon during the Cold War several years ago, it was calculated that there were approximately 75 insurgencies, revolutions, tribal battles and other violent disruptions occurring on a daily basis across the globe. It was clearly a very violent world; a world at that time where all manner of mayhem was practiced and thousands were killed every week.
FAREED ZAKARIA
Fareed Zakaria, a writer for Newsweek, has published a fascinating book titled “The Post American World”.
In his book he suggests that the world today may look very dangerous but, in fact, it is peaceful and calm. He goes on to say that Fred Burr and a team of scholars at the University of Maryland have tracked the data of violence very carefully and have come to this conclusion:
“The general magnitude of global warfare has decreased by 60% since the mid-1980’s and at the end of 2004 fell to its lowest level since the 1950’s.”
Zakaria also points out that Harvard professor Steven Pinker argues that:
“Today we are probably living in the most peaceful time in the history of our species.”
The chances of dying of a consequence of organized violence of any kind are getting lower and lower. The data reveal a broad trend away from wars among major countries; the kind of conflict that produces heavy casualties.
Zakaria goes on to say---Islamic terror, which makes the headlines daily, is a large and persistent problem but one involving a small number of fanatics. It feeds on the dysfunction of the Muslim world, the sense of real and imagined humiliation at the hands of the West, and easy access to technologies of violence. And yet, it does not rank as a threat on the order of Germany’s drive for world domination or Soviet expansionism or Mao’s effort to foment war and revolution across the third world.
In view of man’s long standing proclivity for war, no one can say that the peace trend will continue. However, I am hopeful that mankind is beginning to see the absolute futility of war.
THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE
But since the statistics described above show a slow-down in constant and widespread murder and warfare, I ask does this breakout of peace have any effect on the run for the office of president? If we are moving toward a more peaceful world, is Senator McCain relevant today? Or is this just a temporary slow down in violence and will we ultimately need the Senator?
But hold it—wait a moment---because now we have the President of Iran mumbling about blockading the straits of Hormuz. This would send oil to $400.00 a barrel and gas to $12.00 a gallon. Would it also lead us to violence and war? I would imagine so. Does this kind of threatening talk make Obama irrelevant? Is he tough enough to face this tense and potentially violent situation? I hope so and I note that during his visit to Afghanistan, he said that 7,000 more soldiers are needed there to bring calm to the area. Was this a political statement to out flank Mc Cain or is he serious in making this tough and serious statement?
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Are we really moving toward a more peaceful world? Where does the truth lie? The concept of world wide warfare is now outdated and these conflicts, as well as countless insurgencies and revolutions, are relics of the past. They may have fallen victim to globalism.
As for peace, and for what it is worth, I see it this way: Statistically the world is getting safer, but in the details of every day life there is still much violence or potential violence to be concerned about. Oil is a precious commodity and we have fought and will fight to control it. We must have our gasoline and it must be cheap and our insatiability will continue to translate into violence, if need be. This sensitive area could be an impediment to peace.
If the recent trend of laying people off by the thousands every month continues, due to outsourcing and economic conditions, we could see a massive reaction in the form of riots here in the USA. The elitists, the senior politicians, the so-called “leaders” of America, are out of touch. They do not understand the impact of the rise in the cost of a quart of milk, a loaf of bread, a pound of beef and a gallon of gas. They must wake up to reality and begin to understand that the masses must be appeased or there will be trouble. The French Revolution is a good example of the people taking charge because of tough times. America’s leaders must examine and react to the possibility of this potential phenomenon and give Americans hope; especially economic hope.
There are still many forms of violence in our country and around the world. There are, for example, gangs and drugs and drug wars and mafia turf battles, which affect a small number of people but which are very violent and are not good for the general welfare of the public. There are other forms of terrorism and violence in our world also---forced prostitution, child prostitution and more. All of these factors are forms of violence and are hidden in the ugly under belly of daily events.
There are roadblocks to peace and those barriers are the violence we see today in relationships and families. If family members cannot live in peace—the world cannot live in peace. Also people will fight over that which they want---we need the oil, I need my job, this is my turf, I sell drugs here so get moving or I will shoot you. The potential for extreme violence (war) is just below the surface of man’s consciousness while other forms of violence and inhumanity are fully operational.
PEACE
There are roadblocks to peace and those barriers are the violence we see today in relationships and families. If family members cannot live in peace—the world cannot live in peace. Also people will fight over that which they want---we need the oil, I need my job, this is my turf, I sell drugs here so get moving or I will shoot you. The potential for extreme violence (war) is just below the surface of man’s consciousness while other forms of violence and inhumanity are fully operational.
PEACE
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I applaud the trend toward less violence and I am here to tell you that being in two wars is enough to make old warriors like me into peace believers. I want peace across the planet as well as right human relations.
I applaud the trend toward less violence and I am here to tell you that being in two wars is enough to make old warriors like me into peace believers. I want peace across the planet as well as right human relations.
