I think I'm becoming a pacifist!

[diy_fun_uk]

Let me first say I'm aware humankind always has, and probably always will, fight with each other. Cultural, religious, political and societal differences will see to that. And I'm aware there's a LOT of money to be made if you're in the 'defence' game. So I know what I'm about to type is very much a rose-tinted glasses view of something that's unachievable.

However ...

Whenever I see posturing from various countries on their military strength (look how much stuff we have that is designed to kill people) it just serves to make me increasingly sad about the lack of genuine peace across the world.

I think about the money invested and what a shame we haven't learnt to live in global peace over the last few hundred years. If even a portion of that money was directed to genuinely good causes, things like deprivation and poverty could be almost if not fully eradicated.

Not sure if my post even makes sense as I'm aware of the realities, nevertheless I see nothing to boast about when it comes to how many killing, oops sorry defence toys a country has. It's a shame those with genuine power across the globe don't genuinely work towards peace. Traits such as power and greed will ensure it never happens, of that I'm fully aware.

Still a shame though.

 

[Bodd]

It's a lack of trust. Humans are very un-trusting. Then there are the powers that just (for what ever reason) want us to not trust each other.

So we put up defences. Nations up their military.

We can (and I do) try to make anyone feel liked or welcome with a smile or just being pleasant. Even more so if they are another nationality, colour or religion to me. But there will always be someone over their shoulder whispering in their ear. "Don't trust him/her" they dislike you because your different to them."

We will never build that bridge because of a minority who will always knick the bricks and the steel.

 

[Notch7]

Let me first say I'm aware humankind always has, and probably always will, fight with each other. Cultural, religious, political and societal differences will see to that. And I'm aware there's a LOT of money to be made if you're in the 'defence' game. So I know what I'm about to type is very much a rose-tinted glasses view of something that's unachievable.

However ...

Whenever I see posturing from various countries on their military strength (look how much stuff we have that is designed to kill people) it just serves to make me increasingly sad about the lack of genuine peace across the world.

I think about the money invested and what a shame we haven't learnt to live in global peace over the last few hundred years. If even a portion of that money was directed to genuinely good causes, things like deprivation and poverty could be almost if not fully eradicated.

Not sure if my post even makes sense as I'm aware of the realities, nevertheless I see nothing to boast about when it comes to how many killing, oops sorry defence toys a country has. It's a shame those with genuine power across the globe don't genuinely work towards peace. Traits such as power and greed will ensure it never happens, of that I'm fully aware.

Still a shame though.

It’s ironic that every year for 20 years $100 billion was spent on the Afghanistan war…..a country with a gdp of $20 billion.

 

[charliegolf]

An outdated theory of personality types...

Superego, Ego, Id.

First is the kind, nothing-in-return, altruistic part of our human self. The higher order of 'being human' if you will.
Ego drives our everyday desires and forms how we see the world in its most general sense.
The Id drives the animalistic needs and wants, the bits that 'being socialised and civilised' suppresses.

My point? Humans are wired, at least by degree, to be selfish, cruel members of the animal kingdom. And here's the thing... we can be convinced by ourselves or others, that taking that car, or that country; or killing those Jews or Uigers (sp) or Chetchens or Afghans is not only ok to do, but necessary. Thirties Germany is as good an illustration as there is.

That's why we need Orwell's 'rough men' to keep us safe. That's why Russia and China and the others keep their rough men around too.

 

[Munroast]

Since the dawn of human civilisation we have been distrustful and unwelcoming of strangers, it is our basic instinct. How many of us don't lock the front door when we go to bed.

 

[Munroast]

It’s ironic that every year for 20 years $100 billion was spent on the Afghanistan war…..a country with a gdp of $20 billion.

Utter rubbish - we spent 100's of billions trying to bring peace and stability to the area, in the end we decided we were wasting our time and have left them too it. If we wanted a 'war' we could wipe the country of the face of the planet in a few hours at very little cost. They only remain a threat to us because we are too nice.

 

[JohnD]

It’s ironic that every year for 20 years $100 billion was spent on the Afghanistan war…..a country with a gdp of $20 billion.

"spent on"

but not "spent in"

the vast majority will have been pocketed by US arms manufacturers, contractors, mercenaries (sorry, I mean "security consultants" and "private guards") and some will have been spent on Swiss watches, gold, Mercedes Benz limousines etc.

 

[Bodd]

How many of us don't lock the front door when we go to bed.

That's because of the local scum

 

[bernardgreen]

The Id drives the animalistic needs and wants, the bits that 'being socialised and civilised' suppresses.

I agree with that. Protecting one's own tribe from the marauding activity of another tribe was a basic animal instinct that is now 100% banned by the rules of civilised life.

Humans are wired, at least by degree, to be selfish, cruel members of the animal kingdom

That wiring was ( is ) an essential instinct for survival.

In most people that survival wiring has been disabled by civilisation. But in a few people the rules of civilised behaviour have not suppressed the survival wiring and the behaviour of these "uncivilised" people is unacceptable in their community.

In the animal world members whose behaviour is unacceptable are dealt with harshly and often finally. The survival wiring sets the punishment. In the human world the rules of civilised behaviour prevent that harsh treatment being handed down to those in whom civilisation could not disable the survival wiring

 

[ReganAndCarter]

That's because of the local scum

Agree. Imported scum prefer mugging and dealing to house breaking.

 

[Notch7]

Utter rubbish - we spent 100's of billions trying to bring peace and stability to the area

that was the reported reason.

the real reason was revenge for 9/11

They only remain a threat to us because we are too nice

a bit of a pointless statement -see above where you said "trying to bring peace and stability to the area"

you cant argue both ways

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Just one example and yes, I know innocents get killed on all sides. Doesn't make it any less tragic though.

US drone strike in Kabul DID kill aid worker and nine members of his family, defense official says | Daily Mail Online

 

[JohnD]

that wiring was ( is ) an essential instinct for survival.

Nope

humans are social animals and are conditioned (like most animals) not to kill their own kind. Animals without this genetic characteristic exterminate themselves or have to live in solitude.

The taboos against murder and infanticide do not derive from laws. The laws derive from innate human bhaviour.

Unless you are born defective, you have to be trained to kill. It can be achieved by teaching you that "the enemy" is not your own kind. Perhaps they are a different colour, or religion, or speak a different language, or are a different class.

I refer you to "On aggression" by Konrad Lorenz, the noted and pioneering animal pyschologist

 

[JohnD]

Operating a drone from a country thousands of miles away makes it easier by isolating the killer from the victim and weakening the sense of personal responsibility.

In the same way that being able to say "I just drove the train" or "I just made the laws" or "I just delivered the gas" or "I was just following orders" does.

 

[JohnD]

...In the animal world members whose behaviour is unacceptable are dealt with harshly and often finally....

If you look up the death rate of chimpanzees due to murder by other chimpanzees, you will be surprised.