Apathy - International Social Equality/Unity

For those who may have forgotten some of the issues, a brief reminder may stir the conscience. Still at large in the US is one of the twentieth century’s most notorious mass murderers, Henry Kissinger, who is directly responsible for a carpet-bombing campaign that murdered approximately two million civilians during the Vietnam War. Let him defend his genocidal doctrine of carpet-bombing at the International Criminal Court (ICC). A more recent example is the killing of thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq – a direct consequence of the policies of the “coalition of the willing”, who deceived their respective populations and the UN in order to invade and plunder Iraq. Wolfowitz, Perle, Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell, Bush, Blair Howard, are some of the principals involved in the subterfuge, which has since been exposed. Leading legal experts have stated there is a clear case to answer at the ICC, but only the people are able to deliver their leaders to the ICC!

There will be a price to pay for the loss of integrity and lack of social conscience – as has recently been demonstrated in New Orleans. Experts disagree over the causes of an apathy that pervades the developed world: alienation, emphasis on individualism, debt slavery, lack of community, social Darwinism, elitism, avarice, fear are just some causative factors offered by analysts. However, it would seem that there are a number of contributing factors (including all of the above) that have paralysed the will of the masses. The common denominator underlying all causative factors is divisionism, which is at the heart of the ‘divide and conquer’ strategy now proving effective for various criminal milieus masquerading as governments.

Whole populations are now paying the price for abandoning the cohesive principles that create healthy human societies, namely, mutual cooperation aid respect and the sense of justice that results from these principles.

Failure to act in the face of injustice, inequity, state criminality/terrorism only exacerbates problems and further reduces our quality of life – do not be deceived, the problem is internal not external. Surrendering all state criminals to the ICC would be an affirmative initial gesture that would kindle a community spirit and engender intolerance for further state corruption and criminality.

Today’s ‘shrinking’ world is forcing populations to confront each other; we either learn to cooperate in peace or perish in conflict. Cooperation, respect and mutual assistance ensure the successful development and evolution of human groups yet not one modern society displays these qualities and behaviours toward other societies. Instead our leaders opt for self-interest and divisive strategies, those that appeal to the negative characteristics of human nature; bogey men and enemies are created and utilised as focal points in order to distract from the real issues.

Following is an example from the natural world, which should serve to remind us of the efficacy of cooperation and mutual aid.

Scientists have determined why migrating birds fly in formation. These discoveries provide valuable lessons for everyone. Why geese fly in formation:

1. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates a slipstream that enables the following bird to maintain flight with reduced effort. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds seventy percent to their flying range. Sharing a common purpose and a sense of community enables a group to achieve far greater performance with less effort than those who ‘go it alone’.

2. If a goose drops out of formation it suddenly confronts greater wind resistance, which results in the bird correcting its flight path and re-aligning with the formation. Mutual cooperation results in an exponential increase in effectiveness and benefit.

3. The lead position is shared by all as each goose rotates forward when the lead goose drops to the back of the formation to rest. Sharing leadership or difficult tasks equally prevents premature ‘burnout’ and reduces the occurrence of errors induced by stress/fatigue.

4. Geese at the rear of the formation encourage those in front by honking – this also serves to establish a rhythm to which all respond. We need to ensure that our ‘honking’ from behind is encouraging and engenders harmony rather than discord. Negative criticisms and comments are unhelpful and counter productive.

5. If a goose is wounded or becomes ill, two geese will drop out of the formation and follow the sick goose to ground to support and protect it. They stay until it is able to fly again or dies. They usually join another formation or attempt to catch up with their flock. Successful groups support each member as needed, through ‘thick and thin’.

The next time you hear the divisive ranting of politicians, bigots, liars and elitists, remember the lessons these simple birds teach us.

It should now be clear that those who would divide us seek only to serve their own interests – divisionism is death.

You are always able to exercise your sense of community and make a difference by joining an existing ‘formation’, that of the no-buy-day and the no-work-day. Purchase nothing whatsoever on the tenth day of every month and do not attend your work on the third day of every third month. Quietly observe these two simple strategies and you may be surprised how far you have extended your ‘range’.

We are One.

Peace.

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