Growing up, we were always told that Alfred Nobel established the prizes that bear his name because he was so wracked with guilt over inventing dynamite. Not so, apparently: Nobel felt that with dynamite available, nations would fear making war, and thus he'd already done his share for world peace.
The article that I read this in (about the latest Peace Prize receipient) pointed out that by that logic, Edward Teller should have received the Peace Prize (as, indeed, Sakharov did, albeit on other grounds). But, of course, the Nobel never actually goes to those who promote actual peace and freedom, like George W. Bush. No, it goes to people who talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Face facts: Most often, peace comes only through defeat of belligerents.
Deepak Chopra has some new book about "peace beginning with you," somewhat akin to Yoko's ad of a month or so ago on the same theme. Of course, these people are ridiculous. They ignore the facts that, on the one hand, there are people in this world who want to have war regardless of our feelings for peace, people who will not just "go away" with good vibes, and, on the other hand, just because we make war does not mean that we are not, in fact, bringing peace, perhaps the only or best way it can be brought.
2 comments:
In case you havent noticed, the war in the middle east isnt going anywhere - nor is it resolving any of the real issues. Lets face it - we are all still pretty damn scared of this of this fiend called terrorism. Oh and our soldiers over there? Pssst. They are starting to see it that way too.
Whatever it might be- that doesn't make the solution backing down, meditating, and singing "Imagine."
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