Will War Always Be Our Destiny?

Just in my lifetime, my nation, the U.S. has fought World War ll, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Grenada War, a near World War lll during the Cold War, two Iraq Wars, the Afghan War, the Libyan War and even the War on Drugs.

And the U.S. and its allies continue the 10 1/2 year old Afghan War, and the U.S. fights undeclared wars in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere. Israel and the Palestinians continue their endless fight, while Israel threatens war on Iran and wars of "liberation" are being fought in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Despite the intelligence of mankind, will war always be our destiny? As a man of hope, I believe mankind can do far better. Yet for this to happen, you and I and the rest of humanity must understand why we endlessly kill each other:

1) Everyone Kills For Peace. The U.S. today is a classic example. As it reigns Hell on others, it does it only for humanitarian purposes, under its "War on Terror," trying to make this a better and safer world. In the process, it ignores all the death and destruction it causes and all the orphans it creates. In fact the U.S. wants peace so badly, that it is bankrupting itself with borrowed funds to build all of its weapons and fight all of its wars and to maintain its military bases all over the world.

2) The Real Causes Of War Are Not Addressed. Poverty, hunger, sickness, ignorance and hopelessness are as old as mankind. But rather than helping those in need, they are often killed as "terrorists" or are killed because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Think of how this world would flower if the money spent in killing were instead invested in providing the poor with food, electricity, education, medical care, jobs and the means to help themselves.

3) Ego And Greed. Of course no-one ever goes to war over ego and greed because it isn't marketable to those who have to fight the wars and pay for them with their lives and money. But the power and greed of our leaders and those corporate interests who support them is insatiable.

4) Karma. I believe we live many lives and that some of us are reborn in this world to seek revenge upon others who have harmed us in a prior life. Unfortunately, our response in pursuing revenge brings a form of Hell on all of us.

What Is The Answer? How can we stop this endless cycle of war, fear and violence?  It starts with each of us recognizing our humanity in every one and taking sincere action to stop their suffering. You and I have been and will always be our brother's keeper for what happens to him will ultimately happen to us. If history has taught us anything, it is certainly this.

Each of us must forgive those who have wronged us in this life to stop this endless Karmic cycle. No more revenge. We must also unite to raise our voices for compassion and peace and we must insist that our tax money be used for peaceful constructive purposes. For there can never be peace unless we use peaceful means to solve the problems that throughout history have led us to wars.

Dick