Peace has mostly been the desire of humanity as a whole, at least on the surface. But in the heart of man is still the desire to contend, overpower, and conquer. Man is more than an animal, and yet for all his intellectual power, he is still beholden to the laws of the jungle: the need for food and shelter. Often, this is acted out by countries in the personas of the so called “world powers” and the countries of the “third world” or underdeveloped nations. My opinion is that the existence of underdeveloped nations could be seen as an accusation against the world powers. Resources are not scarce in this world, and there is plenty for all. The cause of the disease that strikes at the heart of a free and well apportioned global society is personal greed and the inclination to hoard wealth. In the Middle East, this shows itself in the form of oil and its distribution and politics around the world. In America, it is revealed in the harsh light of foreign policy that rewards Middle Eastern countries and China, and ignores the plight of poor and hungry nations such as parts of Africa. By only “caring” for the places in the world that have something to give in return, we further the damage done by this spirit of human greed and the will to power. We damage not only our neighbors, but also ourselves, and consider it a win when in fact it is a most dishonorable defeat.
Those who study Christian theology realize that this spirit of the world is a result of original sin and the fallen state of mankind; although created for goodness, man has opened the gate of sin (disobedience to God.) In other religions are found similar concepts, most respecting the primacy of man in the physical world while acknowledging his inability to act responsibly towards other humans, the animals, and indeed even the trees and all the goods of the earth. Those who do not believe in God or gods, and do not subscribe to any ideologies that are widely considered to be religious or even deeply philosophical in nature, still recognize the importance of sustaining the people of the world in comfort whenever this is possible. They realize that the world must be cared for, and recognize that the other “animals” are incapable of seeing that through. Therefore, you could refer to what Catholics call “the natural law” inscribed upon the heart of man. Now, if only we would not break it so badly.
