Psyche, Science, and Society

Bury war once and for all?

January 22nd, 2006

In his recent article, After the War, Howard Zinn raises the prospect, as well as the necessity, of abolishing war once and for all. While correct on the necessity of this step if civilization is to survive, Zinn, unfortunately, gives little sense of how we flawed humans can bring this about. But he does raise one of the four most important questions facing the human race.

Excerpt:

And while we work with increased determination to make this happen, should we not think beyond this war? Should we begin to think, even before this shameful war is over, about ending our addiction to massive violence and instead using the enormous wealth of our country for human needs? That is, should we begin to speak about ending war—not just this war or that war, but war itself? Perhaps the time has come to bring an end to war, and turn the human race onto a path of health and healing.

A group of internationally known figures, celebrated both for their talent and their dedication to human rights (Gino Strada, Paul Farmer, Kurt Vonnegut, Nadine Gordimer, Eduardo Galeano, and others), will soon launch a worldwide campaign to enlist tens of millions of people in a movement for the renunciation of war, hoping to reach the point where governments, facing popular resistance, will find it difficult or impossible to wage war.

Entry Filed under: War and Peace