No Peace Without Answers
Why the world's turned into the chaotic mess it has deserves to be answered. This won't win me any friends.
Why There Is No Peace
Don't we all miss peace? Peace is gone and the state of the world proves it is unlikely to return. Why? That's a haunting question.
Peace is a state of tranquility or quiet, freedom from civil disturbance, harmony in personal relations, or a pact to end hostilities. What's wrong with a world that can't find peace?
People are the biggest problem. Not all of us, but many of the eight-plus-billion people are unwilling to do the things that lead to a peaceful society. For those people, they're guilty of trying to control everything. But that's only one of the sins they're guilty of.
Answering the question of what's wrong with the world is tough. But some answers are worth examining. After reading Jonathan Townend's piece "What Is Wrong With People Today," I couldn't help but think about that question.
People Live On Social Media
One of the things wrong with the world right now is people's addiction to social media and how social media controls their lives, routines, and thoughts. At four a.m. on a Saturday morning, the first thing I saw on Facebook was Donald Trump. The president of the United States is such a polarizing figure that it's almost impossible not to see him when opening Facebook.
This might make Donald Trump the most viewed person on the internet. Why do people care so much about Trump? There are other things in the world to think about.
What I found interesting about the picture was that it was obviously posted by a Democrat. His political opposition gives him so much free publicity that he couldn't be washed from the internet with anything short of a super X-class solar storm wiping out the grid and shutting it all down.
The over-politicization of our lives has turned us into mindless drones, many in their mid-thirties or younger, constantly with our hands on an electronic device. Smart phones are making dumber people, less likely to interact with each other personally, and through social media news, keeping us divided as a society.
Politically Motivated Fearlessness
Mob mentalities around political ideologies have turned the basic business of the country into chaos. How many times are the young people of this country going to be allowed to terrorize others for no other reason than they didn't get their way and want to throw a tantrum?
We all have a right to get involved in the political decision-making that affects our lives. Some of us remember the older generation telling us it was our "civic duty." But everything has turned into a protest, and those protesting aren't always on the side of right, good, or civilized ideologies.
On college campuses, over the past three years, there have been numerous intense protests where people showed up to support...?
Do you know what they were supporting? Do they? Those who were supporting Palestine weren't supporting a government in a civilized nation. They were supporting the Hamas militants that invaded Israel, killed and tortured people, and are still holding hostages. Hamas was supported by Iran, a country that's historically supported terrorist activities. And young people and students showed up, wearing masks, waving the Palestinian flag on US Soil, and committing violent incursions.
Newsflash
Most of them don't have the stones to get into gunfights with terrorists. Many of these activists would be raped, tortured, and killed if they were in Gaza. And by protesting in favor of them, you are supporting terrorists and terrorism.
All that politically motivated bravado is going to end up costing many of them, as the United States is taking a stance that it will no longer assist those who support terrorism. Some scholarships will be canceled, and many will be without a country.
Hatred Over All Else
The sign that our future was in trouble first came when we were faced with the demons of the squad. AOC is one of those demons. The constant rants and her progressive stance above what's right for the people are an example of hate over all else. Her hatred for Donald Trump, her hatred for the conservatives, and her grasp for power make her a poster child for political laughery.
Rather than thinking about the damage a shutdown would potentially do to our country, Pelosi's left-wing extremists voted against the spending bill to get the country through September and avoid the crisis.
"It's almost unthinkable why Senate Democrats would hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for free..."
At the last minute, Chuck Schumer admitted he didn't like doing it, but the country came first and he couldn't just let it shut down. Nine others stepped up, against their party, and voted to keep the government running. This is the same party that just two years ago rallied against a government shutdown at all costs. What happened to them?
Their hatred over Donald Trump's presidency is what happened. When it was them in power, it was an unthinkable scenario to let the government shut down. Now that he's in power, it's unthinkable to let your leverage go without getting what you want, even in the face of an imminent government closure.
This is just a short list of things wrong with this country, and they all deprive this country of ever knowing true peace. Why we can't have peace in this country is quite simple. It's right in front of our faces.
We don't deserve it, yet. Until people start to realize what matters, we won't. Until people stop throwing in with groups that aren't good, just because they hate the other and instead of substance, we won't have a peaceful world. There's no peace without common sense.
About the Creator
Jason Ray Morton
Writing has become more important as I live with cancer. It's a therapy, it's an escape, and it's a way to do something lasting that hopefully leaves an impression.
Keep reading
More stories from Jason Ray Morton and writers in Humans and other communities.
One of Life's Greatest Joys Dies in The 21st Century
Love in the 21st Century This isn’t your grandparent’s world. Most people who got it correct are rolling in their graves regarding things like honor, commitment, love, and family. Unfortunately, things like love and lasting relationships are dying. The idea of love, marriage, relationships, and forever slowly dies as the world turns a blind eye.
By Jason Ray Morton 12 months ago in Humans
Comments (3)
I find peace by shutting my phone for a while so I can sanitize my brain from the world.
You may be right about not winning any friends with this. That having been said, I have oft remarked when others have asked why people say & do the things they do, "Because they're people, just like you & me, & every bit as much in need of grace as we are." My only quarrel with this piece is the way you characterize those who protested on college campuses, AOC & progressives within congress. There may have been some who fit your caricatures, but my understanding by & large is that the protests had to do with the suffering of Palestinians because of both the intransigence of Netanyahu & his Zionist supporters (who aren't willing to settle for Israel being allowed to exist as a nation but insist on claiming all of the land once included in the biblically ideal borders) & Hamas. They weren't cheering for Hamas & rooting for another terrorist sortie. They were protesting the long-suffering of Palestinians who have lived under occupation & severe restrictions in the land which is supposed to be theirs for decades. AOC & progressives in congress weren't trying to insist that they get everything they want. They were opposing the radical proposals from House Republicans that will now allow Donald Trump to spend money precisely as he sees fit while simultaneously reducing the amount that is available in any measure for those who are most in need. When Republicans have shut down the government it has been because they have not gotten precisely that which is anathema to Democrats. It's not that they wouldn't like to see a balanced budget. As a matter of fact, they're the only ones in the last 30 years to provide one along with budget surpluses to pay down the debt. (cf. President Clinton) They're not willing to create more suffering among the most vulnerable just so that Republicans can have their military toys, give tax cuts to the wealthiest & most powerful & still not balance the budget or pay down the debt. Yes, I see plenty of social media posts from liberals who simply hate Trump no matter what & are going to blast him for anything & everything. They tend to produce all kinds of gotcha moments that ultimately don't mean a thing. (I find it infuriating.) But even then, their hatred tends to be focused on Trump & their disbelief upon MAGA, not upon the people, not even upon those who disagree with them. (Ironically, aside from refugees, asylum seekers, & apparently tourists from Germany???!!!, his supporters are the ones who are likely to suffer the most.)
Nice work.