Albert Einstein was passionate against the atrocity of war. He said, "It is my conviction that the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder." He and Sigmund Freud discussed military aggression. Einstein asked, "Is there any way of delivering humankind from the menace of war and how can we promote peace?" Freud replied, "Yes."
Dear Ones,
Freud, encouraged "know thyself," as both geniuses recognized our own potential to turn anxieties and fears into aggression and hatred. Freud then went on to explain how humanity is torn between a drive of connection with one another and a drive toward death through aggression, with Einstein adding momentum to the discussion. This aggressive conflict within our souls is imbedded in political, social and economic drives.
Freud and Einstein agreed, "Anything that encourages growth of emotional ties will operate against war." Einstein continued, "Law should supersede violence by international consent through legislative and judicial body that would settle any conflict"–what indicated world government, harking back to the 1600s with Hugo Grotius's idea of International Law.
This great scientist in our times said that realism tells us to refuse to be limited to past war failure in order to create a lasting peace and to end militant suffering that never solves any problem without multiplying human grief. He also indicated it would take many voices to gain lasting harmony on Earth, what I wrote in my blog titled Zillions of World Voices for Peace.
Einstein went on to say, "One does not make war less likely by formulating rules of war. War cannot be humanized. It can only be eliminated. . . . Nationalism [that leads to fascism] is an infantile sickness. [my country right or wrong]. . . . Heroism on command, senseless violence and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism–how passionately I hate them. . . . The conflict that exists today is not near the old-style struggle for power, once again presented to mankind in semi-religious trappings."
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius–and a lot of courage–to move in the opposite direction . . . .War time arms and activities has corrupted the mentality of men . . . . Dangerous [military] technology and progress is like an ax in the hands of a pathological criminal. . . . Military mentality is still the most dangerous force that always attracts men of low morality. As long as armies exist, any serious conflict will lead to war. . . .You cannot prevent and prepare for war simultaneously.
Just before he died Einstein's last words he wrote are, "Political passion, once fanned with flames, excites violence."
Who do we trust–Einstein or the military that recklessly dropped seven H-bombs on land and in seas, with man-made plutonium leaking into warming waters and melting polar ice?"
Although endless contaminating wars are serial crimes, I believe there will always be a need for service forces and national guards who bravely help humanity instead of training youths to kill other youths with the instigators sitting back out of harm's way in the politics of aggression–invade, attack and occupation.
When we are judgmental about dealing with war terrorists, we must realize war is terrorism. Any thoughtless world leader committing youths to terror is a terrorist himself–a crime itself as youths are used as sacrificial scapegoats in war zone alters of burnt offerings. As a point in history, Mark Twain and a comrade walked off the battlefield when they they were terrorized by the shock of savage, primitive carnage. The famous author was not only saving his life but was aghast at the futility and juvenile game of war. Fortunately for us all that he lived to write his war prayer and other great literature as well, what gave insight into his youthful action.
Twain's bold action is only a fact of history, not an example the military wants any youth to follow. However, the military is the only profession that punishes, not that many years ago, with death–anyone who is absent without leave. Today it still is the only occupation that is grossly punitive when a combat soldier deserts his position. This alone reveals another diabolic side of war. World solutions handled with diplomacy and negotiation together with justice through world law and order, is the only civil way to solve problems instead of violence and aggression hurled at others to quell violence and aggression.
Mame
www.macdonaldsward.com
helenesmith1.blogspot.com
The author tweets for international peace
and combat soldiers physically/mentally killed and broken in war
