And so we deteriorate into conflict, further expanding the threat to our existence as a civilisation through the powerful weapons we have now developed, and our inability to manage them effectively because of the ancient beliefs we still hold about each other and our surroundings.
The most powerful nation may come out on top by annihilating everyone else - but as global war escalates, who can say with any degree of certainty that they too will not blow themselves off the face of this beautiful planet, given the nature of modern terrorist warfare and the inability to determine who is the ”enemy”?
I honestly do not believe I am exaggerating anything within this scenario, but simply applying the effects of our traditional and limiting beliefs to the growing problem we are creating, and which they can only fuel rather than resolve.
By challenging what we believe, and in so doing changing our relationship with each other and our surroundings, I believe it is possible to create the opportunity for a huge evolutionary leap forward as a species. We are at a unique moment in time in our history and embedded within this era are the ingredients for either our destruction or survival – the choice is ours.
If we do not bother to commit to fundamental changes in what we believe in, and the time comes when we seek to protect our young from rising temperatures - holding them close to us as we huddle precariously on the roofs of our houses, and with rescuers unable to get to us because of the approach of more tidal waves which will sweep over us, it’s no good saying “We’re very very sorry, we won’t do it again!” – Its not right or wrong - it just didn’t work.
With this in mind I return finally to our Crusading Knight. He continues to view all we have constructed for ourselves with awe and incredulity. On a trip to a museum he spends a long time looking at various modern weapons, particularly the rifles and hand guns, with their ability to kill at a distance with rapid fire. He turns to those accompanying him and with a glint in his eye says, “We could really teach those Muslim dogs a thing or two with these magic sticks”.
In an enlightened age of changed beliefs, where people accept their connectedness and revere their individuality, might not the reply be – “Why?”
It works for me!
Copyright 2008 John Coombes
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