The Only Way to Abolish War is to Make Peace Heroic

[Holister]

If you don't think there isn't any worry about war, far be from me to disillusion you.

Nope, no one talkin' bout a war here Cyb's.

[Cybermancer]

Your premise was that war was being looked for, not that it was being discussed.

The thread quite obviously discusses the possibility of war. That is not the same as looking for it or causing it.

Therefore it does not apply.

[Holister]

Your words not mine Cybs.

[Cybermancer]

My words have not said what you are implying they did.

[Holister]

Again, your words not mine Cybs.

[Cybermancer]

And again, my words do not say, "I am looking for war."

They say, "If you don't think there isn't any worry about war, far be from me to disillusion you. "

Being concerned about war does not equal looking for it. Being concerned one might happen is not looking for it. Those who were worried about Hitler's intentions in 1938 weren't looking for war though they did discuss. And regardless of whether they were looking for it or not, it found them.

[Holister]

Yep, that Hitler was one evil guy. But that was a man, just a man. War is a shitty thing. But plantin' the notion that there is goin' to be some great conflict between humanity and those things not so human is stirrin' the pot Cybs.

[Cybermancer]

A lot of people thought that way about Hitler, too.

More to the point, I'm actually suggesting that the pot has been stirred and hornets nest poked.

[Holister]

Yeah, but who's gone and stirred up who?

[Cybermancer]

I'm still trying to determine that, I'm afraid. Until I have evidence, it would be premature to post my suspicions as that could stir things up if they aren't already or make it worse than it already is.

[Holister]

Well until we got it figured out, I reckon we just keep our ears and eyes open, and hope it never escalates that far.

[Cybermancer]

I share that hope.

[Holister]

Glad we agree on something there Cybs.

[Cybermancer]

Disagreements aren't always a bad thing. Though initially disagreeing here on this thread, thru that disagreement and discussion we were able to come thru to the other side with better understanding and on common ground.

[Holister]

Diplomacy is always a good thing. World could learn alot from us here at The Society.

[Cybermancer]

Again, I agree. Thus the title of the thread. Hopefully others will also agree or convinced to agree.

[Kolya]

The wars that occurred before and after that statement was made suggest that it is not true. Peace is durable only when it evolves from security. Unfortunately, security is a relative measure. Even the most peace loving societies of the world are armed to the teeth because security trumps peace. Aggression has been hard wired into humanity by evolution and as long as armed forces are maintained the option to be violent exists and is considered a viable choice.

This is a pessimistic view that war cannot be abolished but it certainly can be avoided. The role of diplomacy is vital to avoiding war because it allows us to gain understanding of another's situation and make appropriate adjustments that make the stakeholders feel secure. But the fact remains that sometimes one side concludes its security can only be achieved in war. Such as the solution to Hitler, which although delayed eventually the conclusion was reached.

[Cybermancer]

Regretfully Koyla, you are correct.

There is still reason to hope. Enemies were able to unite against Hitler and after the war, were able to table their differences, so far, indefinitely.

I would accept a similar scenario if war can't be avoided or completely abolished.

[Holister]

Greetin's

Here's some food for thought. What if Hitler was just a puppet bein' used by someone or somethin' else entirely. What if every war fought war fought over the past few centuries was masterminded and brought about by some dark power simply to bring about chaos, death, & destruction. Had this discussion a few days ago, and this real smart guy said somethin' that made my blood run cold, a war doesn't happen over night, it takes many subtle pieces played at the right times and in specific ways, like a game of chess gone wrong. Funny thing is, watch the news and the same series of events seem to be happenin' all over again in Europe & Asia right now.

[Kolya]

Possibly although I've suspected my entire life that there is no worse monster than a human.

[Holister]

I may actually agree with that; then I remember Khavik, and Darque, and Shepard, and the other enemies that posted here. Kind of glad the old days, are just that, the old days. Still good to see you alive Koyla, hope everything is good up in Siberia.

[Kolya]

Good and evil. The balance of life. I'm doing my best to tip the balance.

[Holister]

Yep, but which way.

Just kiddin' Koyla ol' buddy.

[GhostSpider]

Here is a brain teaser for ya. What would peace be without war?

[Hannah]

The normal.

Hannah Knight

[GhostSpider]

Perhaps.

But perhaps I also didn't phrase the question right. What would peace mean, without war?

[Hannah]

There are struggles other than war. Some are external and some are internal.

Peace is a freedom from those struggles. Being at ease with oneself, the world and your place within it.

Hannah Knight

[GhostSpider]

A noble achievement, to be sure. And yet, one that is beyond the bulk of the human race.

I say this not because i, as in past lives, hold no faith in Man, but because Man needs conflict to truly know himself.

How can you know peace, without having known war.

[Hannah]

Because peace is not an absence of war. It is an absence of conflict and struggle. War may be a form of conflict, but it is not the only form of it and it is probably the most preventable form of conflict.

It's regrettable that something that should be so easy to prevent happens so frequently.

Hannah Knight.

[Ron Caliburn]

Oddly, I find myself most free from conflict and most at peace when I'm surrounded by violence.

Some of us are just made for the battlefield.