One down and 11 to go (months that is). Ironically, following the first two weeks of recuperation from the extended holiday season that spans from Thanksgiving through New Year’s day, the year now begins with accent on Black History, starting with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthdate and extending throughout February, Black History Month, both becoming more widely accepted with time, still with a long way to go.
Regardless of one’s theory or perception of evolution, it must be generally conceded (although never taught) that human life began nearest to the equator where survival required the least amount of resistance in mankind’s infancy. But as with the individual, the ego which comes into play as mankind matures, puts different spins on migration, development and on every phase of “history.” Such common behavior is not unique to any particular race or class but only a few in past ages have been privileged to be able to record-versions of “history” which are more acceptable.
Such distortion may emanate from deliberate untruths, half-truths or from total omission of truth. For this reason I was never a history buff. I never trusted it and still question much of it. Throughout the past century, however, of a world supposedly millions of years old, much of history has been recorded as it happened through steady advancement in science and technology. We must also take into consideration that movie and television versions of actual happenings are particularly subject to dramatization and toward swaying emotions in any desired directions.
It is most ironic that with the court ordered desegregation of public schools, facilities, work places and even private businesses also came the advent of television through which far more effective racism could be implemented.
It’s what I call the invisible fence syndrome. Through legalized segregation the fences were very obvious-prejudice plus power equals institutionalized racism, and still does! But with invisible fencing, the electricity is buried and boundaries are discovered only when those wearing the collars are shocked when reaching them at a slow speed I might add. If approaching full speed, as in a chase, it’s hardly detectable.
The same invisible techniques have redefined modern day warfare. How does a nation heavily armed with fleets of ships, destroyers, missiles, air craft and fighter jets fight back or fight terrorism when the enemy is not another nation but an invisible formless, faceless group of individuals of mixed nationalities who are thoroughly integrated into its own population? What better indicator that the time is far past to declare war on war, which can be done only by eliminating its causes.
According to the Baha’i Writtings the hatreds and prejudices which must be fueled to launch these wars must be eliminated. We must also eliminate national bigotry, mistrust and self-aggrandizement as well as economic, social, racial, and religious differences which prevail throughout the world if we desire to establish an abiding peace.
We can no longer afford to apply antiquated techniques and declare short-term victories which suffer long-term consequences. We continue to emphasize, in case you haven’t noticed, this world is now too small for anything but brotherhood, and far too dangerous for anything but peace!
