What Would Unite Us?

The ‘us’ is not the American people. No, the ‘us’ is all people throughout the global family of nations.

It is safe to say that many people dislike other people even within their own nation. Broaden the scope to other nations and even more people dislike other people. Why this is so I do not know.

I do know that tensions between people anywhere creates competition. Whether for ideas, wealth, products or services, it is natural for humans to compete with one another, to determine who’s better, or wealthier, or better looking, or whatever. It is a childish game that endangers world peace every day just because we are flawed human beings. 

Selfishness and greed are two of the basest personality disorders known to man. They sicken the afflicted person. He or she only wants what is best for themselves and cares little or nothing about others. It’s all about winning. It makes them feel better about themselves. Superior.

Forcing differences among people to determine who is better is such a waste of time, energy and happiness. Why not strive to do better by all people? What would make them happier, or healthier, or less bothered or fearful? What would benefit everyone on the planet?

Have you ever thought about that? If so, what did you decide was the one thing that would benefit all people everywhere? Did you ever wonder what that would cost to achieve? Or even if it were possible?

In so many ways a lot of people have pondered the question. For me it comes down to just one thing: world peace.

That’s it. Nothing else. Why? Because to live peacefully is to cooperate and collaborate with others. It is a style of living that actively explores what is needed by everyone, helping them fill that need, and move on to other achievable aims. Once the basic needs are fulfilled – food, housing, clothing, safety and community – larger issues are contemplated. Power and wealth may be two of the issues, but they soon upset the balance of comity within the community.

Here are several large issues that are in need of global solutions: effective, life-long public education; access to universal health care; global warming and a healthy planet; social justice; honest, transparent governance throughout society working in the best interest of all citizens.

Focusing on those issues will solve many other problems which often distract us from the larger issues. Power struggles among nations is one such problem. If the other issues were functioning well, power struggles within the international community should be much fewer or serious. Military matters would be much less ponderous than they currently are.

World peace is a worthy and achievable goal. It is a positive rather than a negative. It is expansive and aggrandizing of its participants. It builds rather than destroys. It is built on life and health rather than misery and death.

The choice to work for world peace ought to be obvious. Why isn’t it?

November 5, 2020