I don’t think we can force evolution, & the reason we haven’t evolved (answering my own question after some thought) is on an evolutionary scale, we are barely passed needing smell to hunt our food or prey. We’re a long way off from evolving to the point where we no longer have (territorial) pissing matches over a piece of dirt and the resources that it holds; let alone religious beliefs.

So, we are left with who uplifts (with apologies to David Brin) our species, as no socio -political body will be able to do it. Sure, in the short term, there will be stabilization (read destruction) of problematic Governments and people, but that is far more likely to come at the the end of a sword than the tip of a pen. Example: (Nazi Germany) and we are back where stared from. Whether it’s raids on London or Dresden. the “Non-Combatant” casualties climb; & yes, many of those people decided what roll they played in the “International Community” and to them (especially at times when Religion is involved) they made the “right” choice.

When it comes to changing an actual warring nation, the will of it’s people must be broke and recast not to tolerate such behavior. When Religion is throw in the mix, it’s even more challenging (read ugly and brutal and still isn’t effective)and pretty much all bets are off.

Please understand I am not defending or making a case for such horrible situations and actions, I am stating what I have observed as a student of history & humankind. Nor by any stretch of imagination do I claim to have really any answers.

Oh wait sure, I do… anyone have a spare Monolith they can send our way?

“But the way the “war” happens these days means bombing civilians in their apartments, in their schools, in their hospitals even. Ambulances get hit. Emergency workers and humanitarian shelters get bombed. Somalia, Georgia, Gaza, it happened again and again, all over the globe. That’s not war. That’s genocide. That’s mass murder. ”

While the concept that the world (or “international community”) has undergone some horrific advancement in the base mechanics of war. I must emphatically state that not only has war NOT become more brutal and horrific, it is actually on a whole far less traumatizing to “civilian populations” than any other time in history.

Sure, there are weapons that can deliver bombs that destroy entire city blocks, but maimed or dead by a hand axe or rock catapulted is the same as being maimed or dead by a bomb. Run through by a sword, shot with an arrow, bullet or incinerated the end result is the same.

On the same token, “Civilian” casualties is nothing new, in fact, the aspect of “Civilians” is a modern military term & taboo, whereas historically, the populaces of warring peoples were actually accorded with equal if not worse treatment than the military!

I could list battles back to the beginning of recorded history, cultures and people that suffered through war & it various horrors. However, at the moment I do not have the time; If you wish for me to delve into this, feel free to ask, it’s not a pretty issue but certainly enlightening.

It’s said that the societies forget the horror of war and are then doomed to rediscover it every couple of generations; perhaps the issue at hand isn’t how horrible war has become, but why haven’t we evolved beyond it.

Peace,

DSM.