[StrongHeartsWin]

Quote by: Zinkovich Most of all, is there a way for us to change our/others focus for the better, or are we all just hopeless? Are we just too bloody lazy to form a wordwide attempt at community and understanding- worse yet, has it become unnatural for us to even attempt such a thing?

I don`t think it is hopeless, and I don`t think we will always be too lazy -- though we appear to be so now, and have been up until the present.

I'd be glad if you guys could give me your advice and point me in the right direction in general , because I feel completely bewildered and lost about this entire issue, to tell you the truth.

More than happy to.

In fact, the only thing I can reasonably suspect partially contributes to the agression and clannishness of certain segments of humanity is the limitations of resources due to the capital of certain nations(See: America) upon them at the expense of another.

I think that is a factor after population pressures come into certain regions -- but not the root cause.

Other then that, something human is motivating the rest of this- what is it? Is it more complicated then greed, or ego, or any of those things merely being the culprit?

I think there are 6 root causes which I list the first 4 as equally important in the issue and the last two less so:

1. failure to embrace non-prejudicial reasoning
2. religion (which would be eliminated if non-prejudicial reasoning were embraced
3. ego, which gives rise to religion and fosters prejudicial reasoning
4. the continued tradition of animal exploitation and the consumption of flesh when it is no longer necessary for survival or the lack of equal consideration of interests for beings which are able to suffer.
5. different cultures
6. different languages

1. People get angry and hold grievances when things are not abjugated fairly and are discriminated against. This fosters animosity and memories are long creating cycles of paybacks. Reason embraced by both parties in a dispute would clearly demark the one in the right and the one in the wrong. If both parties accpet reason, then they would accept the judged outcome even if were against them. Reason would dictated that. Reason would also dictate that the wrong done to the other would not arise in the first place.

2. Religion as it pertains to the proselytising ones are sources of misery and war, despite the fact they offer comfort to their adherrants, and if read closely with reason, will be seen to be contradictory in their message as they are able to be interpreted any which way one wants for one`s benefit, and for the most part are intolerant. If they are not founded on reason and are intolerant by what is seen in their holy books which their belief systems stem from, then, they, too, are intolerant of non-prejudicial reason.

3. Explained in the list.

4. Violence begets violence. If we view differences between "us" and "them" as the reason to perpetrate something on a being, then why would we not extend that reasoning to justify doing so to the differences that exist within our own species?

If we accept that in reasoning, differences are not justified to cause suffering and deprive one of their life, then contradictions would be eliminated. Look at the history of man; only after we learned to domesticate animals did we do so turn the domestication process on our own self and bring forth slavery. Animals were the blue print, and since we were successful in making them work profitably for us without them needing much thinking for their chores, then how much more profitable would it be we reasoned than to have a thinking being work for us doing more complicated chores. Man reasoned that if he could tie up a horse, hobble a creature, cage a creature, bend it to his will, then he could also do the same using many of the same tools which have been successful on animals to man himself. In order to continue doing this though, he had to mitigate his guilt by first denying reason, spirit, or the ability to suffer to animals since they were different from him, but then that reason let him look at his fellow man and not the differences between him and them and then rest it on their God`s order to do so.

Exploitation begets exploitation. Violence begets violence. Why not uproot the whole tradition of it en toto and throw it away so that the foundations are gone? Part of that would entail adopting a vegetarian diet. There is no reason not to other than "pleasure of the pallate." But, why should a pleasure be continued at the expense of suffering when that pleasure is not a necessity?

5. Different cultures lead to misunderstandings and misunderstandings lead to conflict if non-prejudicial reason is not the norm.

6. Different languages for the same reason as #5.

If languages and cultures along with races could be diluted more into one large mix, erasing many of the differences physically, culturally, and linguistically, it would lead to lesser chances of misunderstanding and conflict that may arise from those misunderstandings. Perhaps a slow internationalization of the world as barriers are dropped could affect this to some degree.

Most of all what can I, or we, or you do about this problem? That, to me, is the ultimate question.

The easiest and quickest way you could start and have an immediate impact would be with #4. Go vegetarian and stop supporting exploitation of beings which suffer.