Is There a Way to Resolve World Conflicts?

The rise of violent groups such as ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and Nigeria’s Boko Haram, is an indication that despite all the achievements in the material world, the human race has failed to evolve emotionally and intellectually. We have collectively failed to understand that co-existence is the only option for all of us unless we find another planet to inhabit. What is the point of being perpetually in a state of war (however compelling the issues) when none of us can escape the consequences of a war of civilizations?

So what do violent groups across the world want? Under the guise of oppression, religious zeal or righteous anger, the common thread running through violent groups is a thirst for power and resources. The power to influence world opinion, the power to manipulate money and weapons and oil, the power to dictate culture and religion and the power to penalize those who do not toe the line. Now, by this definition can you really differentiate between ISIS, Boko Haram, America, Israel, Russia, China, Yemen, Pakistan, or any other center of bloody conflict in the world?

These conflict generators appear different on the face of it, but when you rise above the cacophony of sound and show they make of their ‘justified cause’, you can see that they are all comrades in arms. One group may say we are being oppressed so we fight, another may say our way of life is being threatened so we fight and yet another may say my religion/ideology is indisputable so it’s either ‘my way or the high-way’ for you pal! 

                                 

History is proof that whenever different ethnic groups attempt to wipe out each other completely from the face of the earth, that purpose is never fulfilled by human conflict. Only natural disasters have the potency to wipe out entire civilizations. So my suggestion to all war-mongers is to please try to master nature first and then turn your weapon towards fellow humans. That way at least you will be kept busy and innocents who have nothing to do with your skewed life-view can avoid suffering and persecution.

On a more practical note – yes it’s an unfair world. Someone has more oil and we need that to carry on with our ‘modern’ lives; yes, someone has been manipulating world media to propagate lies about you just because they can; yes, some people live in obscene luxury while you live in dirty, stinking hovels fighting over a loaf of stale bread; yes, in some cultures women can happily run around naked and not be raped; yes, you can no longer wish away the internet or movies or television or spying satellites in the sky; and yes, acquiring that nuclear arsenal does seem mandatory for negotiations and survival.

But, could you all please take a moment to breathe deeply the sweet scent of Mother Nature and allow us gentle peace-lovers to not live under your ominous shadow. We rather believe in live and let live. We don’t want to bear the brunt of your bloody conflicts. We too have problems but we believe in ‘talking it out and listening and negotiating’. We believe in ‘fair competition and sharing of resources’ with our fellow-beings. We believe in ‘respecting individual rights for choosing a way of life’. We believe ‘weapons are ok as deterrents but please don’t actually use them as life is precious and so is planet earth’.

Stop building up arsenals capable of wiping out the planet as it took billions and billions of years for us to get here. Let us build and not destroy the gifts bestowed on us. Try to rise above petty power play and desire for world dominance, to genuinely reach out to each other and negotiate peace. Let ethnic groups ‘talk’ to each other. Let the middle ground be reached in long-standing conflicts, with all sides compromising just a little to reach common ground. Let efforts be made to leave natural resources in the care of indigenous ethnic groups as their natural right by birth.  

The poor need help the world over. Destitution and depravity are a potent mixture to breed envy, anger and violence. As a means of escape from abysmal living conditions, any ‘cause’ can appear ‘glorious’. So instead of bloating over your ‘luxurious lifestyle’ get out there and share your food with the hungry fellow so that instead of gunning you down he becomes your friend and expands your life experience. You may think it’s not my problem, I didn’t ask that chap to not educate himself or work hard to improve his lot, so how am I to blame? I didn’t ask him to remain cocooned in an outdated ideology or ask him to keep his woman suppressed. I didn’t stop him from embracing the wonders of modern science and technology. I have simply evolved better and improved my lot, so how am I to blame?

My answer to that is all boundaries are man-made. Take responsibility for your fellow beings, human, animal and botanical. Did you not tell that chap his way of life is regressive? Don’t tell him how to treat his woman, let her do it instead. Change comes from within. Don’t force it; let them sort it out on their own. Educate and equip the woman if you must but let her make her own decisions.

Did you not use your sophisticated technology to first create a demand for your material marvels and then proceed to bombard that chap’s home with them whether he needed them or not? Did you not try to control what he views on television, what news he gets, what goods he uses, what clothes he wears and what food he eats? Did you not try consciously to change his very way of thinking in an attempt to make a clone of yourself?

Did you not form world bodies in business, trade, currency, conflict resolution, weapons’ control and humanitarian aid, and then covertly proceed to control and influence decisions of these so-called world organizations? Did you not attempt to keep ‘rogue’ states out of the ambit of these ‘world bodies’? Isn’t this hegemony under the guise of ‘world co-operation’? 



Human protocol demands that you offer help when asked for. Don’t interfere in problem areas unless asked to. Let bi-lateral issues remain so. Don’t play big brother, judge and executioner across the world. Often what you see as a ‘problem’ or ‘threat’ is just a private affair between indigenous ethnic groups. Watch but don’t interfere. When you run out of oil, don’t sabotage, form a trade pact. Look for alternate energy sources and reduce oil dependency. If you envy another’s progress, make some of your own; don’t resort to violence. And as far as religion is concerned it is as sacrosanct for others as it is for you; so keep out.  

Dear reader, please share your views.