On Peace

The time has come for Humanity to ask itself, exactly what is peace? Can we achieve it? How will we do so? Humanity has fought among itself for millennia, over territory, over people, over resources, over social disputes...when will we truly know some kind of peace? While War and violence is realistically unavoidable, and Humans naturally violent, is it not possible for us to overcome our natural shortcomings?

With the world in a steady state of deterioration, and a global populace vicariously watching, waiting, and anticipating a peaceful outcome, can our leaders and soldiers truly grant it? The Middle East, the very soil in which our species civilization first began, is in a state of complete upheaval. Iran, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, and Lebanon all wish the complete and utter destruction of the free state of Israel, and the only thing that stands in their way is the newly liberated country of Iraq. Al-Qaeda terrorists are being funded by American bought illegal drugs, extremist Islam seeks to eradicate Western culture, Russia conducts itself irresponsibly with tremendous amounts of Oil, China capitalizes on the increasing global populations needs, Europe is in a social meltdown, and all the while the glorious rights of Democracy are being stripped away in the U.S.

How long will it take for Humanity to realize that itself, and the beautiful planet Earth are inherently worthless in this vast universe...unless we make it worth something. Is Humanity the only living sentient life in it? Will we ever spread across the stars and find out? Will Humanity choose to finally embrace nature, or continue to destroy it?

These are the most important questions of our time.

(Good short meta speech for Socio Behavior Studies?)

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War is constructive. I say proceed.BiancaDK

Lol I agree, but the class isn't really about promoting war :P

[QUOTE="BiancaDK"]War is constructive. I say proceed.chandlerr_360

Lol I agree, but the class isn't really about promoting war :P

Aliens do not exist; there's no need to try and find anything out. The vast universe has no inherent value either and mankind will not destroy itself.

Aliens do not exist; there's no need to try and find anything out. The vast universe has no inherent value either and mankind will not destroy itself.

Cereberus75

Aliens do not exist; there's no need to try and find anything out. The vast universe has no inherent value either and mankind will not destroy itself.

Same ol' same ol', if you ask me. Good for class though. I haven't noticed the TC's last question, by the way.Cereberus75

Well, first of all, real peace requires some sort of unconditional love. Now be honest, do you see a lot of that in society? Not really.

Also, people profit from war. Oil companies and and companies that rebuild infrastructure get huge contracts after the USA wins a war, and then I don't even count the corporations that make military resources. The people suffering from war are always the civilians and the people who signed up to the military. So it's really an instrument for the elite to stay at power.

Also, a lot of the threat we think there is doesn't exist. For example, there never was an international network of terrorists called Al Qaeda (or however you spell it). 9/11 was a group of muslim fundamentalists working individually, although with support from Osama bin laden. Ever since, military is hunting down a network that doesn't exist. The BBC has an excellent documentary on this called "the power of nightmares".

I quess if you've read the book 1984 you understand why war is necessary.

Well, first of all, --- ( ALOT OF TEXT OKAY ) ---1984 you understand why war is necessary.

11Marcel

[QUOTE="11Marcel"]

Well, first of all, --- ( ALOT OF TEXT OKAY ) ---1984 you understand why war is necessary.

BiancaDK

I think real peace is unconditional peace by the way. That means not feeling the need to invade one another, even though you aren't interdependent. That would need some good resource management though. I think it's very possible, and I think it's not in human nature to be at war. But there's a long way to go.

I don't see it happening any time soon.

Well, first of all, real peace requires some sort of unconditional love. Now be honest, do you see a lot of that in society? Not really.

Also, people profit from war. Oil companies and and companies that rebuild infrastructure get huge contracts after the USA wins a war, and then I don't even count the corporations that make military resources. The people suffering from war are always the civilians and the people who signed up to the military. So it's really an instrument for the elite to stay at power.

Also, a lot of the threat we think there is doesn't exist. For example, there never was an international network of terrorists called Al Qaeda (or however you spell it). 9/11 was a group of muslim fundamentalists working individually, although with support from Osama bin laden. Ever since, military is hunting down a network that doesn't exist. The BBC has an excellent documentary on this called "the power of nightmares".

I quess if you've read the book 1984 you understand why war is necessary.

11Marcel

[QUOTE="11Marcel"]

Well, first of all, real peace requires some sort of unconditional love. Now be honest, do you see a lot of that in society? Not really.

Also, people profit from war. Oil companies and and companies that rebuild infrastructure get huge contracts after the USA wins a war, and then I don't even count the corporations that make military resources. The people suffering from war are always the civilians and the people who signed up to the military. So it's really an instrument for the elite to stay at power.

Also, a lot of the threat we think there is doesn't exist. For example, there never was an international network of terrorists called Al Qaeda (or however you spell it). 9/11 was a group of muslim fundamentalists working individually, although with support from Osama bin laden. Ever since, military is hunting down a network that doesn't exist. The BBC has an excellent documentary on this called "the power of nightmares".

I quess if you've read the book 1984 you understand why war is necessary.

chandlerr_360

What was really going on is that Osama bin laden was a spiritual leader with money who called for people to attack everything US, because he thought that was the root of most evil and corruption in the muslim world. He had a small following (although even most warriors in his video were hired guns to impress people), but most of the power of him was the people he wasn't directly connected to. In the end, Osama bin laden was starting his war on the USA because his war in the middle east had failed miserably. The fantasy is being kept alive mainly by the neo conservatives who believe a common enemy will help the USA.

[QUOTE="chandlerr_360"][QUOTE="11Marcel"]

Well, first of all, real peace requires some sort of unconditional love. Now be honest, do you see a lot of that in society? Not really.

Also, people profit from war. Oil companies and and companies that rebuild infrastructure get huge contracts after the USA wins a war, and then I don't even count the corporations that make military resources. The people suffering from war are always the civilians and the people who signed up to the military. So it's really an instrument for the elite to stay at power.

Also, a lot of the threat we think there is doesn't exist. For example, there never was an international network of terrorists called Al Qaeda (or however you spell it). 9/11 was a group of muslim fundamentalists working individually, although with support from Osama bin laden. Ever since, military is hunting down a network that doesn't exist. The BBC has an excellent documentary on this called "the power of nightmares".

I quess if you've read the book 1984 you understand why war is necessary.

11Marcel

What was really going on is that Osama bin laden was a spiritual leader with money who called for people to attack everything US, because he thought that was the root of most evil and corruption in the muslim world. He had a small following (although even most warriors in his video were hired guns to impress people), but most of the power of him was the people he wasn't directly connected to. In the end, Osama bin laden was starting his war on the USA because his war in the middle east had failed miserably. The fantasy is being kept alive mainly by the neo conservatives who believe a common enemy will help the USA.

Your right on almost every account, but I'm sorry to say Al-Qaeda was born directly after the Soviet-Afghanistan war. You honestly think Bin Laden would still be alive if it wasn't for a organized personal military force? The reason the U.S. wants him so badly is that he is not only the symbolic leader of the Taliban, but the actual leader of Al-Qaeda. Two birds with one stone. And yes, they really are that organized. Random Islamic extremists just wanted to contribute to Jihad would never have the resources or funding to hijack a plane armed AND get the money to train themselves how to fly it (major schooling), to travel to Somalia sabotage U.S. field operation centers, or get to London and blow a train car.chandlerr_360

Also, those random islamic extremists only need a plan to succeed. Osama bin laden has the money and the resources. That's all the connection they have. The reason they seem so organised is because everyone wants them to be so organised. Osama bin laden welcomed Al Qaeda as their new name, and he welcomed their reputation, because it attracts more followers. Politicians and the media welcome the image because it doesn't only create fascinating news stories, it's also something that binds the public together. "You're either with us, or you're with the terrorists". It's this simple good vs. evil fight they want.

By the way, another thing. The "dirty bomb" you may have heard about, doesn't do much. It's a terribly ineffective weapon, and just an idea of an islamic fundamentalist. People go crazy over it, but simple tests show it's nothing to be afraid about.

[QUOTE="chandlerr_360"]Your right on almost every account, but I'm sorry to say Al-Qaeda was born directly after the Soviet-Afghanistan war. You honestly think Bin Laden would still be alive if it wasn't for a organized personal military force? The reason the U.S. wants him so badly is that he is not only the symbolic leader of the Taliban, but the actual leader of Al-Qaeda. Two birds with one stone. And yes, they really are that organized. Random Islamic extremists just wanted to contribute to Jihad would never have the resources or funding to hijack a plane armed AND get the money to train themselves how to fly it (major schooling), to travel to Somalia sabotage U.S. field operation centers, or get to London and blow a train car.11Marcel

Also, those random islamic extremists only need a plan to succeed. Osama bin laden has the money and the resources. That's all the connection they have. The reason they seem so organised is because everyone wants them to be so organised. Osama bin laden welcomed Al Qaeda as their new name, and he welcomed their reputation, because it attracts more followers. Politicians and the media welcome the image because it doesn't only create fascinating news stories, it's also something that binds the public together. "You're either with us, or you're with the terrorists". It's this simple good vs. evil fight they want.

By the way, another thing. The "dirty bomb" you may have heard about, doesn't do much. It's a terribly ineffective weapon, and just an idea of an islamic fundamentalist. People go crazy over it, but simple tests show it's nothing to be afraid about.