Deadly Game!

      “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” so begins the 1859 novel “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens. And so it seems with us as humans in our society of constant conflict and pursuing peace.  Sometimes, we as humans, despite all logic, will want to cut off our faces to save our noses.  We can’t see the practical side of a situation because we have focused our attention on what we WANT to happen and not really on what should practically happen, even in our own best interests.  Let me tell you a little story that highlights the value of being savvy in a practical way against what might seem to be the logical thing to do.

               There was a small town in which lived a young man whom the citizens had deemed to be the town idiot.  When any of their relatives or friends would visit they would call the young man over to let their guests see what an idiot he was.  They would have him stand in front of them in the yard.  They would show him a coin in each hand, one a small gold coin and the other a very large silver coin.  He was told that he could choose either coin for himself to keep.  The young man would grab the large silver coin and run off.  The people would stare in amazement and just laugh.  One day when this was done for a visitor he ran after the young man.  Upon catching him he declared, “I have to ask you a question.  Why do you keep choosing the silver coin?  Don’t you know that the gold coin is worth many times more than the silver coin?”  The young man replied, “Of course, I do.”  The man was puzzled, “Then why do you choose the silver coin?”  The young man answered, “If I choose the gold coin the people would stop playing the game.  Do you know how many silver coins I have?”  These people wanted to continue playing the game even though it was costing them a large sum of money, as the young man was merely “playing” them against their best efforts.

            When we think about the larger picture, as on a global scale, we can’t afford to continue engaging in war.  And almost everyone you talk to, even politicians, seems to go to great efforts to achieve peace.  But regardless of all such efforts, peace (real peace) always seems to be evasive.  Many people, even though claiming to be Christian, don’t put very much faith in the bible. However, I do find it interesting when speaking about the political powers of the world, calling them the King of the North and the King of the South, Daniel, chapter 11, verse 27 says: “As regards these two Kings, their heart will be inclined to do what is bad, and they will sit at one table speaking lies to each other, …”  Does this not sound like the activities of governments today?  But if governments wanted peace, why can it not be obtained?

            You may be surprised to know, since 1914 (the start of the Great War, known today as World War I) there have been NO days when there was NO conflict or war of some kind somewhere on the planet!  That’s almost impossible to believe if so many people were really trying to make peace a reality.  One possible reason is, it appears, that war (or the preparation for war) is a continuous effort by nations since the economy seems to thrive during such periods of time.  However, many experts call this belief a “myth” and blame it on a false perception from a misunderstanding of the economic way of thinking.

            However, is that a myth?  A report entitled “Economic Consequences of War on the US Economy” published by the Institute of Economics and Peace examined the macroeconomics effects of government spending on war and military since World War II.  It specifically examined five periods: World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq/Afghanistan Wars.  The conclusion they reached?

            “For each of the periods after World War II, we need to ask, what would have happened in economic terms if these wars did not happen?  On the specific evidence provided, it can be reasonably said, it is likely (italics mine), taxes would have been lower, inflation would have been lower, there would have been higher consumption and investment and certainly lower budget deficits.”

            In 1969 Edwin Starr recorded a song entitled “War”.  Within that song the continuous theme was “War, what is it good for?  Absolutely NOTHING!” So, WHY do we continue something that NO ONE wants, that NO ONE can afford, and EVERYONE wants to end?  The problem is the way our system has been established and continues to run. And the fact that we’re only human!

            (I have included a poem I wrote on this topic a number of years ago.  Please enjoy.)

This Deadly Game Called War!!

 Wonder how to say it now?

The words I long to pray.

I only hope, one day, somehow,

The game will go away.

It seems so little that I ask,

So small a thing, indeed.

Except, so large to cover all,

These words they’ll never heed.

A point is made for us, or them,

But who is in the lead?

Peace must come to all the world,

It’s we who’ll plant the seed.

I know not why, it lingers on,

We need this game, no more.

I pray ours sons could shortly end,

This deadly game - - - called WAR!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"If we can agree to a cease fire for today,

why can't we cease fire EVERY day?"