"Who will have the courage to break this cycle?"

I would also add "Who will have the imagination to break this cycle?".

Our current leaders are bereft of vision. They cannot imagine a world different to the one they are used to. There is no Mandela like leader in the world currently.

The same predictable, tired old responses, masquerading as 'strength' and 'toughness' will achieve the same tired old outcomes, and the cycle of violence will continue.

That is unless we, the voters, actually demand a different type of leadership.

A good leader simply cannot see the world through eyes of compassion and continue to position or improve their respective countries.

Do you think the third world has loyalty to those countires who give, or work with them? NOPE. Especially without us being a Muslim nation, we will always be on the outer with much of them.

Do you think that by giving goodwill to our neighbours we will improve our position, or do you think Karma will spare us when it all hits the fan?

I agree, what a wonderful world we would have if we all as nations had the same giving attitude and shared the same visions of equality and the like. But when you are in the mix with over a hundred nations with their internal problems overridding any initiative to change or use new mindsets, if we act like that we will squander the position that as a nation we have worked to achieve, and it would endanger our longevity and our own lifestyles.

You give to those who either appreciate it, or who would rociprocate if the tables turned. The bulk of the world does not fit in this category, so neither should we.

I do not want to loose what we have worked for by giving it all away, especially when we have so many internal issues that we should focus on and get our own house in order first.

I wonder if modern technology makes killing technically both easier and politically expedient? My grandfather's war was fought in close combat. He saw the fear in the enemy's young eyes and was aware of the mad lust to kill in his own blood. It probably sent him mad afterwards. Nowadays, computers plot the action - combatants may only feel the "light bump to the plane" as they depress the remote button.

It is hard not to disagree with Katharina Weiss, "To fight wars we have to deny our own and others’ humanity." Except that I would extend 'fight' to 'start' and 'maintain' because the combatants are 'only' obeying someone else's mad orders.

Faced with the mere statistics of deaths and casualties, and not the close up of body parts and the bereaved, it's easier for politicians to have the courage to be aggressively militaristic. If political leaders were obliged rutinely to visit the battlegrounds and speak to the families of the dead and maimed, they might come to see the truth of Katharina's maxim that "compassion takes more courage than war".

If political leaders were, as a matter of course, obliged to give a full account to an international court of their decisions to take their nation to war, they might have more respect for the principle that war is an absolute last resort, to be engaged only in the face of a clear and imminent threat to basic human rights and life.

Tell it to the Islamic terrorists, dearie.

‘Compassion’ does take more courage than war: its means that you will probably die at the hands of your non-compassionate enemy.

And, remember, ‘compassion’ is not necessarily a positive thing. Have a look at Roget’s to see the negative aspects of compassion – ‘weak’, ‘indulgent’, ‘soft’, ‘permissive’.

And leave ‘gods’ out of the equation. Islam is a cover for politics, as was Christianity before it was wrenched out of the dark ages. Also, give George Bush a rest. Have a think about the way the Islamic fascists describe the West and democracy. Calling the Islamic world an ‘axis of evil’ is pretty mild, given the intention of Islam. Islam is the main threat to world peace, not George Bush or the US.

Would you be allowed to talk such twaddle if from the other side?

You also mention the good old standby, ‘cheap petrol’ as a motive for war. Please let us know where you are buying your ‘cheap’ petrol.

Judging by your photograph, you still have time to get in touch with the reality of life. You will be much better off pinning your hopes on George Bush than on an exiled lama and a Burmese woman permanently under house arrest.

Leigh, throwing insults at a women contributor ("dearie"), at Islam in general ("a cover for politics"), the young ("judging by your photograph") and world-respected peace activists ("an exiled lama and a Burmese woman permanently under house arrest") may be your idea of a contribution to a debate on a serious issue; but I think you are likely to alienate reasonable people.

But then, why should you care what I think? You probably feel better with that bile out of your system.

Kath,
you are absolutely right;

unfortunately 'realists' do not understand that compassion and forgiveness is actually *the only strategy* that can be effective.

Those >>realists<< claim that
>>A good leader simply cannot see the world through eyes of compassion and continue to position or improve their respective countries.

Then blindly follow those heartless and brainless 'leaders' to slaughter others or be slaughtered...

Why can’t they really see, that with their primitive ‘let’s hit them hard’ responses they are just perpetuating the cycle of violence?

Regards

Paul
www.creativewinwin.com