"WHAT I HAVE LEARNED"

We may be programmed to engage in war by our inherited genes.

If this is true, then "War" can be ended on our Planet Earth. We
have but to use our very capable minds to distinguish between what
is wisdom...and what is our gene reaction to stressful situations.

All living things are programmed for survival by Nature. Among

the most successful survivors are those who live in "groups". Over
time, the descendants of these "survivors" come to have the
instruction to live in groups in their genes. Such genes are passed
down to us from our ancestors of over a million years ago. This is
why we live in families, tribes, societies and even nations. This is
why we group ourselves into philosophies or religions. "Grouping"
contributes to survival.

When disagreement occurs between "Groups"...it can lead to

War. Our genes tell us to regard members of our group as "us"...and
members of all other groups as "them". If we are to have a world
without war, then we must learn to consider all of Our World's
Peoples as "us"....there can be no "thems".

The glue that holds our "groups" together is the group "belief".
Our many groups have many different beliefs and philosophies.
They cannot not all be right....but all can be different. It follows then,
that a group's belief or philosophy does not have to be based in
wisdom...but only needs to be "believed in" by the groups members.
Groups defend their beliefs (binding glue) vigorously. Many will
willingly face death in defense of their belief. Why is this ?

Our inherited and strong gene emotions warn us that if the cement
(belief or philosophy) that holds our group together fails...then our
group will be torn apart and will no longer provide the security that we
need for survival.

To have a strong "group" is to educate the very young in our group

ways...our philosophy or belief. To teach them that our way is the
best of all ways and that our ways must be staunchly defended.
Unfortunately, groups that are not based in wisdom, are also able to
indoctrinate their young people in the belief that "our ways" are the
best ways. Thus have we historically had wars between different
groups...both firmly believing that they were in the right.

History has shown us that groups based upon wisdom do

survive...while those based upon unwise premises are doomed to
failure. (Witness the fall of even great historical civilizations when
they abandoned wisdom.)

Wisdom is simply that which has been proven to be good for

Humanity.

When is a belief or philosophy a wise one ? The most important

element of wise groups is individual freedom. The individual is free to
express a public opinion about all things, as a cherished member of
the group itself. If such freedom is denied, then one's group belief or
philosophy cannot be considered a wise one.

A wise group is a group that treats all of its members equally.

The same freedoms and benefits are available to female, male, old
and younger members alike. A wise group engenders good
treatment for both wild and domestic animals and good care of our
natural environment.

What we must seek to do, to eliminate war, is to educate our

world's peoples in the idea that we are all one people... and there can
be no "us" and "them" viewpoints in a cooperative, peaceful and
therefore thriving world civilization.

This simple teaching can eliminate war from our world...forever.

Be well,

Herodotus