UI – Part 544 – Living in Friendship and Peace (4 of 5)

Humans are more than the animal we pet or avoid. We think. We all too often think more of ourselves than others.  That makes peace a desired objective, yet history has proven it is elusive, even after wars, the victors or the losers have failed to achieve peace.  The battles continue.

Laws

Why are laws necessary?  Consider this question.  If you love your neighbor, love god or mother nature, respect your ashram leader or your elders, and have no desire to covet their property, their spouses, or what they otherwise possess, and can truly feel safe and secure in your abode, then laws may not be needed.  The Bible, inspired by God, spells out laws in Leviticus and Deuteronomy.  The New Testament makes known that Christ came to fulfill the laws.  What is being said here?  Well, the laws are for those that need to be made aware of their limitations, what they can and cannot do.  Because of the sinful nature of humans parameters needed to be made known to contain the overt actions that may well be taken against another, especially the weak or those who let their guard down and do not properly protect themselves.  Peaceful areas have been invaded by unsuspecting marauders, the surprise attack never contemplated, defenses never readied, to the benefit of the evil ones and to the loss of the innocents.  Thus laws are needed for the bad ones who are spread about everywhere.  Laws are like the weed killer Roundup designed to eliminate the unwanted and harmful invaders that can destroy the perfect yard and lawn.

Unity of Purpose and Tolerance

Love can produce sparks ready to ignite a greater conflagration.  Jealousy can create divisions between couples that is wholly unwarranted, especially when there is nothing to be jealous about, but the conditions to make one person jealous of another varies person to person, and depends on trust of self or others, or lack thereof.  Unfounded suspicions can create fissures in relations, even when totally based on the mind of one of the two parties, despite lack of proof and denials by the opposing party.  Sometimes there is just nothing that can provide a cure or cause peace, except possibly an agreement to ignore the past and move forward. Moving forward unified, hand in hand, as one, even when there are disagreements, is possible; in fact it is healthy.  But can the past be ignored?  This all goes to the subject of forgiveness and apologies.  Can the person be forgiven for doing wrong?  Are apologies available for false accusations?  The issue then simply boils down to keeping the peace. Being tolerant, accepting what you cannot control, can be added to the mix here. In such situations the parties must either agree and/or jointly desire peace.  No want for peace, then the battle will rage on.  Can scars be such a reminder than vengeance can never be dismissed, the opportunity for retribution constantly sought and jumped upon when possible?

It is hard enough among couples, individuals, but when it comes to Nations, who speaks for all as to the objective of friendship and peace.  In all situations a want for friendship and peace must exist, a desire and a willingness to do what is necessary to maintain the status quo. The leadership is the heart, mind and soul of peace. This is a reminder, a note, to always vote for those whose heart beats similarly to your own (that is if you want peace and harmony).  As the leaders change, their advisers change, the vote of the people having an impact, the want for peace, or to maintain peace, can be altered.  The aftermath of WWII is a great example.  So too are the many changes in attitude by the United States as terms of Presidents ended, new Cabinets were formed, new faces and opinions, different expertise, entered the White House and the legislative branches.

History

History is so important and has been neglected here in America.  Our children, the students from elementary school through high school and college are just not receiving enough in their curriculums focused on history.  There is European history, American history, but also history of Islam, Biblical history, history of empires, the Roman Empire and the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, their formation and demise.  We cannot ignore events during the Dark Ages and the Renaissance which were not as dark or in need of revival taking place in Asia.  World history encompasses the whole. But then does it?  World leaders, individuals and the events that transpired during their reigns, and after, their competitors, supporters and detractors, and the outcomes as a result of decisions made are important to review and understand. As Adminstrations changed so to their regard for domestic and foreign policy. Who made the correct choices; who were the more competent; who were the less competent? What were the cause and effect of War, not just World War One (The Great War) or World War Two?  Who were the nation’s leaders at the time, and within nations who were the decision makers, the pros and the cons.  And we cannot forget the people, the civilians, and how decisions made by their governments and the few who decided for the multitudes used the people, ignored the people, protected the people, or sacrificed for the love of Country, as patriots, or as resisters.  There is so, so much to be gained from learning history, from many angles, and it has been reduced to library shelves that seldom find hands wanting to take a book to read, to study or even to respond to educator’s questions.  The questions are not asked, the classes are not being taught and the knowledge of our past is being ignored, and now repeated.  What is being taught is opinion, that of the educator, in an attempt to formulate a collective mindset, not freedom of thought, but required thinking.  That is not education.

…to be continued.  We are a Nation of Laws.  But the sides of the aisles that decide laws are not in accord.  If they are not on the side of the majority in writing the laws they will complain, they will cajole and they will ignore, even resist implementation. It was the intent of the composers of the Constitution that once the majority agree then all will abide by the outcome.  Overtime, if not in accord, steps can be taken to alter, modify, the laws, again seeking a majority to re-enact, to change and to gain harmonious consensus.  If tolerance were the champion in the fight then when the bell is rung regardless of the outcome peace can be achieved.  But the victor at the time, and the defeated at the time, must be resolved, with humility, to the result.  There will be, can be, another day, another opportunity, but let it not be War. History will have you feeling they same as I do in that regard.

Grace and Peace

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