People Killing Each Other

The humans of Star Trek are placed in the future for a reason. It is an ideal for us to work toward so that when the future becomes the present we will be living in that ideal world. Part of that process of evolution (perhaps the next big step) is religious views such as Jediism which no only hold peace as a major value but actively working toward Peace. I imagine there is probably some way that each of us could actively help bring more peace to the world, but I'm not sure exactly what that might be. Perhaps joining a neighborhood watch, volunteering to help the local police department, or looking for groups like the Guardian Angels. On the other side teaching kids about peace and the far reaching consequences of violence could help to create a culture that as a whole opposes violence. Personally, I haven't quite found where I fit into that yet, but I'm sure it's out there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMBJ87ZTuJY

Things happen slowly over time.

Being in the present, it can hard to see the scope of things.

Man is a bridge, not an end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts4s9gjCT04

"Stop praying. Praying is a sense of false accomplishment, thus leading you to inaction. If you stop praying, you will be driven to take action, which in the end will prove more effective." - Nathan Thompson

That is probably the most profound thing I've heard in my life. And he said that just now in response to your post Rick the Grey, while munching on some McDonald's french fries, but that's not the point. The point is that he is ABSOLUTELY right. There is a LOT you can do other than pray, you just need to look around and figure out what it is based on your own abilities.

Alethea Thompson wrote: "Stop praying. Praying is a sense of false accomplishment, thus leading you to inaction. If you stop praying, you will be driven to take action, which in the end will prove more effective." - Nathan Thompson

That is probably the most profound thing I've heard in my life. And he said that just now in response to your post Rick the Grey, while munching on some McDonald's french fries, but that's not the point. The point is that he is ABSOLUTELY right. There is a LOT you can do other than pray, you just need to look around and figure out what it is based on your own abilities.

:whistle: I'm lovin' it!

Although I do not condone or like in any sense of the word, there will always be people killing people.

The solution to killing is to eliminate EGO. If we could kill every EGO on earth, the killing would stop.

Ego drives greed, gluttony, fear, hate, selfishness, self service and all the other self-words. It is the need of possessions, the want for more than what we need that drives humans insane. Why does the gang member kill...for turf, territory, this small section of the city, distribution on this street and that? For land that he or anyone else on this planet will ever own?

I came up with a meditation ritual for understanding what we truly own...

Stand naked in front of a mirror and look closely at the human in front of you. What you see is what you own. There is nothing else on this planet that you can possess, that is now, or ever will be, yours. Think hard on this. Everything else you have has been purchased, handed down, made by you or someone else, or generally given to you by man made means. They are fleeting, they come and go, they decay or wear out, they end up in the trash after being used, they are the essence of impertinence. When you die...look in the mirror...that is all that you take with you!

Meditate on this.

Wow, that's a depressing meditation.

Incidentally, that naked reflection?

You don't even get to take that with you.

Other people will burn it, bury it, and cry over it.

It was made by your parents and used/abused, by you.

The ego gets a bad rap

You only have it for a short time, like everything else.

Cherish it.

Phortis- I'm going to go out on a limb and say you have never been raped. Neither have I for that matter, but I know a couple of women who have been. In their views their bodies CAN be taken from them temporarily. Just something to consider (and that is not limited to women).

As to the ego- their are a number of mammals that kill for fun- and as far as we know they have no ego. A healthy ego keeps you alive though. Those with no ego at all tend to commit suicide, because they can't find a reason to have good self-esteem.

“Might makes right”. I have heard this often and it really bothers me. But the reality is, if we walk up to the negotiation table and you have Peewee Herman negotiating with “The Rock” or “1980s era Arnold” who are you more likely to listen to?

Unfortunately Peewee may have the better ideas, but if he is put in a headlock or choked out by “Mr Muscles”, who really is going to be listened to more at that table?

Each government’s military is the muscle sitting at that table. Peace is decided by the people sitting at the table and unfortunately, who is listened to the most is the perceived muscle, and those with the willingness to use said muscle.

Our society is full of wolves, waiting to devour the sheep, if not for the sheep dogs keep vigilant, there will never be peace. Peace can only truly be maintained by the perception of retaliation for acting out of hostility.

Bullies will always be out there and will not listen to “you better stop!” unless the person saying it has the muscle to back up the implied, or else!

"Sometimes the sheep wears the coat of the wolf
To spill the blood of his fold ;
Angels wage war in the name of True Love
As blasphemy's birthright gets sold [...]"

"The Word was the whisper that breathed the Big Bang
And the Universe is learning it since :
Sometimes 'Happily ever after' begins --
-- When the Dragon slays the Princess
To free the Prince."