The Ultimate Christmas Present: A Paradigm-Shift in the Way We Settle Our Differences

At the conclusion of the last moonwalk that took place on this date in 1972, the astronauts unveiled a plaque, which read: “Here man completed his first explorations of the Moon, December 1972. May the spirit of peace in which we came be reflected in the lives of all mankind.”

That’s beautiful writing, and causes one to wonder how it’s possible that war is such an omnipresent reality here on Earth. Maybe it’s that we seemed so divorced from its horrors; it’s something that just rolls along, with skirmishes that are hardly newsworthy, taking place in some foreign land, affecting people we don’t know. Thus we “support our troops,” meaning (to most people) we “support the war effort.”

At a certain point, perhaps people will simply change their minds, and tell their leaders, “No, I don’t support this – even a little bit.  Make this stop, or start looking for a new career.” Until then, war, supremely profitable, will remain our paradigm for settling differences.