BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!

Subject: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: saulgoldie
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 09:53 AM

Yes, Kumbaya, oft the punchline of a joke. Yes, we need a worldwide and sustained Kumbaya moment.

Humanity, if we are to survive in any way we could recognize, cannot afford war.
We cannot afford to enslave anyone in any way.
We must make sure that all of G-d's children are looked after, and do not endure having their basic needs not met.
We must make sure that technology is enhanced and used to uplift humanity rather than to diminish it.
We cannot afford to hate and persecute people who are different from us just because they are different.
We must free ourselves from hate, and free those around us from their hatred.

We cannot afford the human costs, and we cannot afford the cascading environmental costs. We must be the better humans that we can be, and we must be. We can, and we must. If not, well, look around you...

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: GUEST,999
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 10:11 AM

Amen to that, brother Saul.

Subject: RE: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 10:39 AM

We need to reward childlessness more, and reward fecundity less.
The simple fact is, there are too many people on this planet!

Subject: RE: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 02:06 PM

It's difficult to avoid war when one's country is threatened by forces of evil. Pacifism is all very well, but without defending and repelling nations with other ideas, we'd be engulfed and overrun. (As during the days of Hitler for example)
Regarding the use of technology, it's often a matter of opinion as to what is an 'improvement' or a bad idea. For example, low-energy lightbulbs sound wonderful, but they cost a lot in terms of energy to produce and contain mercury. Overuse of technology in developing countries is often not sustainable, as maintenance, repair and replacement isn't viable.
I think you're quite right about the good philosophy in your vision, saulgoldie, but the world is complex and it's not so simple to sort things out as we might wish. The first atep is to have every individual, every nation pulling in the same direction. Not an easy goal to achieve. When I pray for the World, I pray for exactly the same things you list here. Let's hope 'Someone' hears us!

Subject: RE: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: GUEST,999
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 03:17 PM

"Pacifism is all very well"

Sometimes it ain't enough, Eliza. I agree with your take on it all. I guess we all hold onto dreams.

Subject: RE: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 11:07 PM

I am not aware of any great hatred emenating from us. I think there is compassion fatigue, ignorance, indifference, self-preservation and overpopulation, but I don't think hatred drives wars and conflict as much as other things..like scarcity of natural resources, sheer opportunity of seeing a weak group of people who can not defend themselves...people can be overrun with no emotional component basically..at least not hatred. Perhaps greed and some sort of proactivity. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 10:36 AM

I'm not so sure, mg. I think that in Belfast, there was an enormous hatred between members of the two sides. And the Jews and Palestinians maintain they hate eachother, not to mention the fundamentalist Muslims and their view of the Great Satan etc etc. It depends what is meant by 'hate' (back to the old dictionary again!) I should imagine that hatred starts with an injustice, causing resentment and anger. But all the other things you list also play their part. I was in tears yesterday wathing the 9/11 memorial ceremonies, how could anyone have done such things? Oh dear, I wonder if the World will ever settle into peace?

Subject: RE: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 12:19 PM

I think the hatred is often manufactured. You hear the Zionists say the that the Arabs hate the Jews. You heard Bush say that the terrorists hate our freedom. During WWII both the American and Japanese leadership told their troops and citizens that the other side's soldiers were subhuman cannibals.

Subject: RE: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 12:30 PM

As I've posted MANY times before, the real enemy of us all, is 'Corruption'! Think of all the people it has affected, as it is used as a 'tool' for facilitating the greedy, and heartless!
The planet, has enough for everyone..it's the pigs who can't seem to live happily, and have more than their fair share, while controlling people's lives, and the resources for themselves. As a result, other people are repressed, held down, and forced to 'live' in unsuitable conditions.

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 01:50 PM

Corruption is worldwide and especially in poor countries, where only a cash 'present' will get you anywhere. But saulgoldie began this thread on a positive note, 'we must be the better humans we can be', so perhaps we should, as Guest 999 says, 'hold onto our dreams'. There is another thread about random acts of kindness, which I found very uplifting. If we can do small things for one another spontaneously, the happiness this creates can spread. I know it sounds feeble, but it's the most we can do I suppose.

Subject: RE: BS: Kumbaya Moment Needed...For Survival!
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 11:24 PM

..and??...I figure the first place to clean up corruption, is in your heart and mind!...THEN get to the rest!

Maybe setting an example....its contagious!

GfS