War in the Middle East

When I hear of more deaths in the Middle East, I am sure that the trouble there will never end. There never seems to be a day where one religion is not pitted against another in mortal combat some where in the world. Just when peace gains momentum to establish an agreement that will curtail the violence, those that have the position to further profit from the escalation, commit an act that provokes the other side again. This is a cycle that so far, continues throughout our modern history.

I believe that the trouble truly lies in the way that we allow ourselves to value profits above the lives of innocent children and adults. The bullets that are manufactured in the United States and other countries, do find their way into the hands of those that will try to keep the world as unstable as possible. As long as there is a need for weapons in the world, there will be weapons manufactured. As long as there is a profit to be made from weapons, then there will be a need created for them to be sold.

I recently read an article that said that those that claim a religious connection of some sort in the United States are very much more likely to own weapons than those that don’t practice religion at all. What does that say? I am not making any excuses for atheists, as early twentieth century communists probably persecuted as many people in twenty years as religious groups altogether. My guess is religions have become the main target for division by the manufacturers of weapons. Loyalty to religious beliefs crosses national boundaries that loyalty to ones country cannot. The arms dealers exploit the differences between the religions to create the problems that sell bullets and bombs. There might not even be a traceable link to the manufacturers for the violence. The profiteers in the middle of the transaction will always be the ones that get their hands dirty. The manufacturer can claim no connection, but still make a profit from the sale of the weapons, regardless.

I would not go as far to say that our industries and government are the sole culprits. I believe many agencies exist around the world that would have reason to continue as much trouble as they can. Currently our media has become a pawn and a willing participant in the cycle of violence. If the media would not report spectacular events in the manner they do, then the event would likely not occur. They have become a voyeur that values the spectacular over the important.

If those that fight over perceived differences could only see themselves the way others do. If you put Irish Catholics and Protestants together and have them not talk about religion and politics, any one person could not tell the difference between them most of the time. I suspect the real differences in religion and politics are the same as well.

2002-03-30