Pacifists who work towards the total elimination of war are generally referred to as idealists: which is likely a way of saying they are naive. While most, within this group, would embrace the title “idealist”; most, likely, would reject the notion of naivety.
On this Page, [Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090431514412&mibextid=ZbWKwL] the title mongering is in response to the general premise of the Page, as reflected in the essays, that humankind is capable of choosing a path other than war. While it is probably true that as long as we reside in the flesh, we’ll likely descend to violence in order to achieve our perceived righteous ways; it is also true that humankind can move away from its present preparation for global war. What is particularly troubling at the moment, is the direction in which we are headed. We increasingly move towards violent solutions to conflict; this must be reversed if we are to avoid nuclear hell.
There are those on the leading edge of any peace movement who believe people are capable of a great moral and spiritual fortitude which rejects all, or nearly all, violence: Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, Leo Tolstoy, and MLK come to mind. But there are also many, not so extreme, who still believe we can move off the path towards global war.
Those on the extreme edge of the movement, who reject all war and who argue for this position, are not delusional and understand humanity will likely never fully embrace this belief. But the harder this group pulls in the opposite direction, away from all war, perhaps the better chance we can reverse the trajectory towards global war. The extreme ends of the spectrum from war to no war determine the middle.
The following is a quote, of a quote, from Leo Tolstoy’s book “The Kingdom of God is within you”. Tolstoy, 1828-1910, a former soldier and highly acclaimed Russian writer was nominated for several Nobel Prizes in Literature and Nobel Peace Prizes. Tolstoy was highly critical of the Christian Church while he fully embraced the moral teachings of Jesus as set forth in the Gospels. Tolstoy fought in the Crimean War during the 1850’s. He was recognized for his courage and rose to the rank of Lieutenant. This war experience combined with his plain reading of the New Testament Gospels which rejects violence led to his pacifist beliefs:
” ‘I am surprised at the way religion is carried on in this country,’ said Sir Wilfrid Lawson at the same congress [Congress of Universal Peace, (1890), London] ‘You send a boy to Sunday school, and you tell him, “Dear boy, you must love your enemies. If another boy strikes you, you mustn’t hit him back, but try to reform him by loving him.” Well. The boy stays in the Sunday school until he is fourteen or fifteen, and then his friends send him into the army. What has he to do in the army? He certainly won’t love his enemy; quite the contrary, if he can only get at him, he will run him through with his bayonet. That is the nature of all religious teaching in this country. I do not think that that is a very good way of carrying out the precepts of religion. I think if it is a good thing for a boy to love his enemy, it is good for a grown-up man.’ “
There are peacemakers in all nations. The peacemakers must unite across borders and insist on a different path. There is nothing wrong or naive about being an idealist, so speak out. The consequence of the other path is massive death and suffering. We are capable of much better.
PostScript: Comments are welcomed, civility requested, please avoid partisan politics.