More thoughts on war and consciousness

I've been thinking too much about Starhawk's proposal to wage a war on the
battlefield of consciousness. Let's review the history of violence (read: war)
as a "solution" to social problems that arise between differing peoples.
We all know that if someone threatens your life, that is, they point a gun at
you, or they shoot your loved one, or your dog or cat, or whomever you feel love
for, you are going to eventually give into their demands because nobody wants to
die or suffer loss of life. It's simple enough, and somewhat effective. But the
problem lies in that the permanance of this type of solution is only temporary.
It is temporary because more people can be created, and if they are all brought
up to think differently than you do, and you find their way of thinking to be
offensive, you have more people to eventually kill again. The cycle keeps
repeating itself over and over.
Let's say we talk about Saddam Hussein. Everyone says he is a madman that can't
be dealt with rationally because he is insane. I don't know if suffering from
megalomania is a form of insanity---I think he is just out of control with ego
that was poofed up by his unlimited power in his country. Killing such a person
as him is only a temporary solution until the next despot comes into being. And
with the way patriarchal society fawns and praises ego-maniacal men, you could
say that society in general fosters the development of such crazy power-hungry
lunatics.
So if war doesn't solve the problem (it just adds to it) then what would bring
about lasting change? A different way of thinking. But that isn't easy to
accomplish. It takes years, patience, and determination. It is somewhat like a
battle of wills, but it's different than that.
Changing the way a person or a group of people or a society THINKS is hard work.
People generally like the way that they think and persuading them is going
against the grain.
Now, I would have to add the proviso to this train of thought that changing
consciousness and way of thinking doesn't mean converting, coercing, or forcing
ideas. The ideas or causes should be those that are just or noble. For example,
I would think most people would feel that changing mind-sets to end sexual
inequality is a just and noble cause, and that enforcing a particular religious
dogma onto people is not. Why is this so? Equality among the sexes is one of
those fundamental things that should not be denied. Even though many of the
world's religions teach a positive, loving message, I think a person's spiritual
journey is their own, one that they must take by themself. I'm not saying there
shouldn't be people to guide them and provide them with the wisdom of the ages,
but it's not something you need to have your mind changed about. The right to
choose which religion you want to practice, and religious tolerance/acceptance
would be noble and just causes or ideas worth changing minds for.
But how does one determine what is just and noble? It's a bit tricky, that's for
sure, but I think in our hearts and minds we know what is "right" from "wrong"
in such matters.
I think the best thing to do with the Iraq situation, and the entire middle
east, and the rest of the world is to start understanding who these other people
are. We shouldn't feel we're some puffed up better society of people just
because we are Americans. If we can understand them, and if they could
understand us, I think we could then reach a point where we see we are all
basically in the same situation, only a few trivial things are different in our
lives.
I guess it all sounds too Pollyannish, like something out of a happy Disney
cartoon or episode of the Brady Bunch. Yet, no one has tried this because we
still have this deep-seated testerone-driven leadership that feels the only way
to settle the score, to effectively handle matters is to blow someone's brains
out.
Maybe it's just we're afraid that if we can identify with "the enemy" we'll come
to realize that they are human, just like us. And maybe in the process of coming
to understand their position, and how and why they think they way that they do,
our own consciousness and treasured thoughts will change. Oh my! Change our own
thoughts?!?! How threatening indeed!
I can't count how many times my own beliefs have been threatened and challenged,
but I found a way to still hold onto my core sense of self and yet see the other
person's side of things.
Well, there's my mental lint for the day. Holiday is tomorrow and I probably
will not be too linty.