International World Peace Day - 9/21

Colleges & Universities Service Academy Parents
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<p>Just compare the “condition” of the world’s peoples over the centuries–their standards of living, social conditions, economic conditions, etc.,… it IS getting better in the aggregate. Certainly when you compare conditions around the world today, there is still a great disparity between people and their condition, but things have improved for the world and will continue to do so, hopefully WITH our best efforts, and despite man’s tendancy to succumb to his baser instincts.<br>
We can stay strong, protect our interests around the world, AND foster the notion of peace around the world, not just another “Pax Romana”, but with an understanding of the peoples of the world that convinces them that we are showing a way for them that works. Without it, we are just another national entity probably destined to be replaced at some point on the world’s stage just like every great power before us. We have the economic power and technological know-how to end poverty and raise the education level of the poor in this country. Why don’t we? Because that is NOT our priority. Instead we allow our immigration laws to be trampled so that that number of the poor increases! We forget that less than 50 years ago we were still allowing racist laws to be enforced and racial discrimination to be openly practiced in much of our own nation. National priorities are much of the problem.</p>

<p>Sadly I look at the presidental candidates from the two major political party’s and I think to myself…“Is this the BEST a nation of 250 million American’s can come up with to lead this nation?” oh boy…hope we wake up.</p>

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<p>Shogun, you really need to move to another country. Not just for a 2 week visit, but for a few years. 1st; We are indeed “Showing the way” for most of the world. That’s why more people try to come to our country “Legally and Illegally” each year. They know we are the best form of government (Representative) and the best form of economy (Capitalist). </p>

<p>Next, we should NOT be trying to end world hunger and poverty. I do agree on raising the educational level of the world people. I don’t believe in welfare programs. They have proven time and time again that no matter how good the intentions, they promote dependency. Educate the people to be self sufficient.</p>

<p>As much as I complain sometimes about our elected officials; sometimes from both parties; there is no doubt that it is the BEST system on the planet. Many other nations have adopted similar forms of leadership throughout the years. Our forefathers had a lot of foresight in designing this system. Fortunately it is set up in such a way that the government CAN’T have total control. That is the only way that our system of government will backfire. If we allow the bleeding hearts to take away our rights, take away the people’s ability to rebel and fight back. That is what keeps our government in check. The ability of the people through election if possible and through rebellion and force if necessary to say “Screw You”.</p>

<p>While it’s possible for the world to go to hell in a hand basket, we definitely have the best so far. We don’t owe the world welfare. It is not our responsibility to feed the world. Give them the education and tools to make themselves better, that is good. (Give a man a fish and he will eat today. Teach him how to fish and he will feed himself forever). </p>

<p>We are as good as we are because of motivation. We have been motivated for more than 200 years. It is that motivation that has been instilled in our lifestyles throughout the generations. For old immigrant families to new immigrant families. The concept that deep down inside, no matter what others say, you do have the individual ability to achieve anything you want. Sometimes we let our families discourage us from obtaining our dreams. Sometimes we allow the same welfare system that “Tried” to help us keep us “Comfortable” and “Dependent” whereas we won’t exercise our initiative. But we all know that deep down inside, we can achieve anything that we want. it might take more work than a person isn’t willing to do, but it is possible.</p>

<p>That is the main difference between us and the rest of the world. That inner drive and determination is not there in many countries. Even in the so called advance nations of the world like in Europe. Many of the countries don’t have that attitude with their people. Students are determined while in jr high and high school as to what their capabilities are. This limits some of their abilities. It limits their ability to go to college in many cases. Socialized medicine puts a heavy burden on the system and resources because every time some one gets a sniffle they go to the doctor. When you pay for it yourself, you are more frugal. Our unemployment system doesn’t promote quitting, staying at home, and collecting 80% of what you were making just to stay home. But of course, they have a government in which the people don’t have as much say so.</p>

<p>Sorry shogun, but you need to stop trying to place the burden and responsibility of the world’s problems on the United States. If the people of the world, the governments, and the faction groups want peace, then I am all for working with them. But it is not our responsibility to kiss their butts and be sensitive to their needs. We can “Help” but not do it for them. If they don’t want to improve, then fine. They can stay self sufficient. If they want to fight in order to “Take” from another people, then we kick their A$$ and subjugate them.</p>

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<p>The United States has already accepted much of the responsibility for dealing with the world’s problems. Our isolationist days are over. We project economic and military power all over the globe. What we say and do affects the entire world to one degree or another. That means, like it or not, we are already involved and invested in either the success or failure of global peace. Whoever said “To whom much is given, much is expected” hit the nail on the head. The rest of the world looks to us for leadership and example, that is a position WE have put ourselves in and accepted since the beginning of the 20th century. Yup, lets just crawl back into our superior hole, surround ourselves with superior firepower and let the much of the rest of the world starve. </p>

<p>“Next, we should NOT be trying to end world hunger and poverty”</p>

<p>I really get a kick out of the fundamentalist christian churches in this country who have decided to get so involved with our political process yet I hear the same things from them. Apparently we are a “christian nation” but I guess christian charity only applies to those who think and live as we do. After all, we are superior–we are more motivated and determined than everyone else. Good grief. We have enough of our own skeletons in our national closet that I thought we’d at least have a bit of humility as well.</p>

<p>We have a great nation, but if we lose sense of our role in the world and our ability to help others we lose who we are. If my neighbor and his children are lying in a muddy ditch Im gonna help them up first, Im not going to wait to ask what they did to get there.</p>

<p>For decades we felt the responsibility to protect the nations of the world from the spread of communism, yet now you propose that the United States shouldn’t lead the effort to end world hunger and poverty? Now that we’ve saved much of the world from “Godless Communism” is this how God’s “christian nation” is to act? Because they don’t embrace a capitalistic system or they aren’t “determined” or motivated enough? Did the American Indian get pushed into either extinction or the reservation because they weren’t motivated? </p>

<p>No my friend, we do have a responsibility, and as as long as we hold the kind of economic might that we do, history (at the very least) will hold us accountable for how we use it.</p>

<p>While I haven’t lived abroad I have travelled. One of the most poignant experiences I had was talking to some Japanese gentlemen on the island of Kyushu. They live in a small town about an hours drive from Kokura. Kokura was the primary target for the second atomic bomb to be dropped on Japan. The target was clouded over so the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. These gentlemen and their wifes lived through the war. Some of them lived in Kokura at the time the 2nd bomb was dropped. They are keenly aware how close they came to dying that day. While the Japanese are one of our staunchest allies, they also consider the atomic bomb from a perspective none of us can, and hopefully never will have. They told me they understood the rationale for dropping it but thought it was still a horrific thing to do. They told me that one of the smartest things we did when they surrendered was to leave the emperor in place. They still hold Gen. MacArthur in high regard because he took the time to understand the Japanese people instead of just ruling with an iron fist. The moral of the story that being in a position of power does not eliminate the need for understanding and working with people who are different than ourselves. It’s part of that national responsibility I was talking about earlier.</p>

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<p>Been there done that and still agree with Shogun 100%. Don’t need to “live abroad” to present the same argument as Shogun’s. Every citizen, given the opportunity, should live abroad in order to more fully understand cultures that are different from your own. To live abroad for the purpose of substantiating the view that

serves no purpose. </p>

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Very True</p>

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<p>Well, hopefully some of the cadets and future cadets will read these posts. Hopefully many will learn in their studies and teachings that there is a difference between “Leading” the world and being “Responsible” for it. Hopefully, as they move through the academy and into their military careers, they will realize that there is a difference between “Helping” people and providing “Welfare”. They will hopefully also learn that for peace among nations to exist, there must be reciprocity on all sides. You can’t force peace down the throat of people who don’t want it. You also can’t provide “Welfare”. You can only provide a “Helping Hand” for their own self sufficiency. Anything else creates dependency. They will also hopefully realize that at least for now, we don’t live in “Rodney King’s” world where people ask; “Can’t we all just get along”. </p>

<p>But because world peace day is nothing more than a hope for euphoria, people should be allowed their day of hope. That is fine. There are too many that are extremists. They think that if you try and close a border, not totally bale out a country with problems, not end the world of all it’s injustices, etc… then it means that you don’t care at all. That’s fine, they can believe that. They don’t want to accept reality. That life isn’t always fair. That it isn’t any ONE country’s responsibility to use all of it’s resources to equalize the world. That each country has their own primary responsibility to their own citizens first. That we are there to “help” when possible but not to be held responsible. Again, that’s OK. Hopefully, most of the cadets who attend and graduate from the academies and go on to become officers will learn to retain empathy and sympathy while at the same time understand reality and truth.</p>

<p>There are obviously ideological type beliefs in this topic that some people don’t want to look past. That’s understandable. There are extremist views of the other side. i.e. Fundamental Christians. Little do they want to recognize that a large portion of the world’s charitable organizations are sponsored by these so called Fundamental Christian organization. But hey, that’s ok. Believe in the extremes. If we aren’t for giving up everything in the name of world peace, then we are obviously war mongers. Anyway, I’ll let this topic go for the rest to discuss in a more peaceful environment. After all, that is what it’s all about. World peace. To extreme for my tastes. Later… Mike…</p>

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<p>“there is a difference between “Leading” the world and being “Responsible” for it.”</p>

<p>Leadership and responsibility go hand in hand. I’m sure thats a fairly well emphasized concept at West Point. Leadership without responsibility is dangerous.</p>

<p>Anyway, as you say good discussion.
Thanks!</p>