~a column about Jefferson by Colleen O’Brien
Life in Jefferson is serene and far from the madding crowd, not to mention the world’s many wars. We escape the madness, we do not contribute to it. Or do we?
There are 14 armed conflicts around the globe. In addition to these active wars, insurgencies and revolts, there are 27 conflicts that have been going on for decades; mentioning a few –since 1918 (Kurds in Iran), since 1942 (Communists in Philippines), since 1947 (Kashmir vs. India), since 1948 (internal fighting in Burma).
And the only leader who was able to bring peace and equality (somewhat) to a troubled land just died.
The state of us folks on this planet is not good.
But, it never has been. We seem to prefer to duke it out rather than talk it out, knowing full well the facts of our human history telling us that killing each other just gets more killing.
Of course there are legitimate reasons for killing others. Depending on the day of the week, I want more land, I want whatever’s under the dirt in your backyard and the river that runs through it; I want your spouse/children/silver plate/Ford Escort; not to mention that I know better than you what’s good for you, starting with your sex life and moving on to your religious preference and your need to smoke pot, snort coke and shoot meth but only if you buy it from me; I also have problems with your hair texture, skin color, clothing and gender. I become particularly ticked off and warlike when I find out you don’t believe like I do on important issues like Which-is-better-Iowa-State-or-Iowa? And minor issues like climate change.
So because of all these clearly practical, sane and sound reasons, one can understand why someone’s starting a war every other day on every other street corner in every other country of the world.
Does this make you think we humans were born to kill?
Logical conclusion. But I think we are simply born and that we learn (from folks – parents, teachers, etc. –who don’t treat us all that well all the time) how to be crabby, which in some just makes us so mad we turn to beheading others and so forth.
Some people believe that war and homicide are part of human existence to keep us from overpopulating the planet. It’s not working.
I don’t think there’s any reason for wars; it’s just bad behavior. It makes others sad, homeless, sick, hurt or dead. The point being? Power? More money than the next guy? Ribbons on your chest, rings on your fingers, bells on your toes and Lamborghinis under your bum?
Wow. Impress me.
Nelson Mandela impressed me, even though he went through a phase of learning how to fight and kill, thinking violent insurgency was the only way.
But it’s not.
And, now we know it’s not wars and killing one another that will take us all down anyway; it’s AC, central heat and autos. So why get upset about 17 armed conflicts and 27 on-going revolts around the world. In the end, it’ll be us nice folks with a house and a car in towns around the world just like Jefferson that will do us in.
