World Peace

Thanks for the great response! There are a lot of haters in this world who will never change, and it's a shame that haters are breeding haters. The children will never know peace in any form, because hate, racism, and bigotry will be instilled in them from childhood. I'm with you about not expecting, or even desiring, an "Everybody Loves Everybody Else" type of world; besides the fact that it will never happen (that's my pessimism coming out, I'm afraid), differences and diversities are part of what makes people and life interesting. Along with diversity comes a varying scale of "like" and "dislike". I don't feel that I have to like or agree with everybody else, but I am open-minded enough to accept the differences and accept that every human being deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. I have had thoughts that perhaps the AIDS pandemic worldwide would help to bring everyone together, looking for a way to effectively contain it. But it seems that that issue is just another thing for everybody to get political about and fight over. Your Star Trek Utopia is sounding better and better!

I wonder who added the new age satanist tag to this discussion?

I hadn't noticed it! LOL I wish they would explain that one!!

If you believe in the second coming, anyway. Me, personally, I'm not a believer of that. I believe in God, but not that. I think things can get better but before they do, they'll get worse. Which, of course, is unfortunate.

I agree- each one of us has to start with ourselves, and build from there, teaching our children and grandchildren to be open-minded and tolerant of all diversity and to be intolerant to hatred and discrimination. This would be the only way to stop the world's violence. This and eliminating the GREED of so many people, also.

Good thoughts! We could just have the perfect person zap some sense into the idiots of the world!! Until that time, you're right- we have to start with ourselves and pray that it is contagious...

Hmmmm.... A lot to think about. Children do have to be taught to share and to "play nice in the sandbox", you're right about that. But they are teachable. With the right discipline and parenting, maybe more of them would grow up to be open-minded and more creative with problem solving than those who feel that violence is the only way to get what you want or what you feel is yours. I agree that war is sometimes over reasons other than hatred and discrimination. But the attack on Afghanistan was actually initiated to stop the violence of a group of people who felt that they could impose their beliefs and causes on the U.S. through the use of terror; this group is a group of terrorists who hate anyone who is not of the same beliefs that they are. The war in Iraq I won't even get into here- I don't want to open up that can of worms. I can't say that I agree with the war, but I think that in principle the President had the safety of the American people and the world in mind; it was his methods that I disagree with.

Thanks for the great response! The more that I learn about different countries, governments, cultures, people, and religions, the more that I tend to feel the same way as you do; it seems as if achieving world peace is an insurmountable goal. All people in the world will never have all of the same beliefs, religions, or cultural traditions- that is a simple fact. And no one group should feel that they have the right to force their beliefs on everybody else. Diversity is what makes the people of the world so interesting. Given this, I have to also wonder if it possible for everyone to live in harmony, being tolerant of and accepting that all have rights to their own beliefs, as long as they are not imposed on others...These are wonderful goals, and they are an ideal to strive for. It all starts with each single person of the world. Each one of us who is open-minded and tolerant of others, or who actively try to learn about other people and their belief systems and cultures gets us one tiny step closer to the goal.

Thanks for the response. I just told another poster that I feel the same way; it's hard to imagine that there won't be some group of hateful people who want to stir things up. But if the majority of the world would come to some kind of peace, then the smaller groups of rebels could be better contained.

I tend to agree with you, but if the haters can be kept to a minimum it would even be a great improvement.

Thanks for the response- these are great points! Too bad that we can't get some of the world's leaders and the religious zealots in here to play nice in the sandbox and get to know all of us!! But you're right, it has to start out on a small scale, and the Internet is certainly helping to bridge the gap between cultures. I find it amazing to learn about different cultures and about how people in other parts of the world live. This place makes you realize that we are all different, but we're all the same...

Thank you. I see that you are from India. What kinds of discrimination are common in India? Is it directed toward race, other countries, religion, sexuality??

That is a great thought, but don't you think that there will still be hatred in the world? Look at some of the radical terrorist groups who hate just for the sake of hating, or because a group has different beliefs or religions than they do. These groups have basic rights, and they continue to hate; they have the freedom to practice their religion and express their beliefs in the world, so why do they feel that they can take away other's rights by killing and violence?

I have to give you a few ++ for making me laugh! I needed a break from the nonsense of today! I think I'll start teaching my little Goddaughter the same thing!

I pray for world peace, but I don't know if it is a realistic goal. What do you think?

I can understand why you would say that; I just pray that there are enough peaceful, loving, open-minded people in the world to counteract the evil. The world would be a horrible place if evil and hatred were universally accepted as "normal".