DESTROY VIOLENCE!
Stop violence before it kills again.
History is filled with attempts to avenge acts of violence by means of additional violence. Instead of suffering, violence only thrives. It is impossible to exact vengeance against violence by supporting it, allowing it to fester. It is necessary to undermine, banish, and ultimately destroy violence.
How is that done? Engineers have yet to develop the technology to single out violence for destruction. What can we do to accelerate that research?
Violence tends to strike back at those who threaten its existence.
War
War involves deliberate, organized violence.
- What causes war?
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- Ignorance at top levels of government
- Most politicians who advocate war have little direct experience with it. Many chickenhawks have avoided military service.
The more people understand about war, the less likely they are to consider it.
- Competition for resources
- Petroleum
- Imports of oil from the Persian Gulf create economic pressure, as well as providing money to fundamentalist terrorists. You can help bring this to an end if you don't buy gasoline from these importers.
- Weapons
- Invasions occur either to reduce the armaments available to a competitor or to obtain rare weapons that are not easy to duplicate.
- Religious jealousy
- About half the human population of the earth subscribes to monotheistic religions. The vast majority of monotheists worship one male god because of that god's jealous refusal to allow rivals to be recognized. In effect, these religions validate jealousy as a basis for human behavior of individuals and societies. Jealousy, the demand for preferential treatment, inevitably leads to conflict.
- Political corruption
- Some examples can be found among Rep. Ron Paul's 35 questions about Bush policy toward Iraq.
- Fear
- Does pacifism rule out the use of force?
- Not always. Pacifism only precludes the use of violence (injurious force or the threat of it). There are many constructive ways to use force without causing injury. Restraint of children to keep them from harm and life-saving surgery are two clear examples.
- How can violence be discouraged?
- Disincentives
- If those who choose to employ non-violent methods of seeking their ends are rewarded with greater success than those who use violence, then violence will not be a rational choice.
- How can we remake society to reduce incentives for violence?
- Consult a platform for social change
- How can we protect our buildings from being toppled by terrorists?
- Consider these suggestions
Links
Wars of the World
Dalai Lama urges nonviolent approach to terrorism.
Do Taliban terrorists still depend on CIA support?
HOW TO KEEP TERRORISTS FROM COLLAPSING BUILDINGS
Find peace in political change.
Find peace in the Ajivika religion.
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Last revised: 20 May 2009
visitors since 16 May 2009