It's simple, teribus. You believe in the Old Way that has been used for the past many thousands of years. Reaction and counter-reaction.

I don't. I believe in a New Way. I can well understand that it makes no sense to you and that you find it unrealistic.

Now, this does not mean I will not raise my hand to block you if you try to punch me. Count on it. And it does not mean that I will not counterpunch if that is what will dissuade you from trying again to punch me. No sir.

But what it does mean is that I look upon all humanity as one family, and I try to move in that direction in the arena of political action.

I believe you still see it as "us and them". I don't. I only see "us".

As for defeated groups seeking their vengeance...well, they do, but they do it in whatever way they think will be effective and they sometimes take it out on someone else entirely rather than on the ones who persecuted them in the first place! Consider Israel when I say this. Consider the man whose boss has chewed him out, who then gives the finger to another driver on the way home, fights with his wife over supper, and kicks his dog. Consider the kid who is bullied at home by his dad, goes to school and bullies smaller kids mercilessly.

Got it?

The Japanese have found other ways than military means to sublimate the shock to their esteem that they received in 1945, and so have the Germans. A thousand million other ways. Count on it. The repercussions go on and on.

- LH