A Thought-Provoking Story

One of the most thought-provoking stories that I have ever heard came from Victor, a personal friend of mine. Except for our age difference and career choices, we could have been brothers. He was 21 years my senior, born in 1925. Upon graduating from high school during World War II, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and served in various Pacific island battles against the Japanese. He told me that as a medic he never shot at anybody but he had to be on the front lines to assist the wounded, and hence he witnessed some of the worst fighting and casualties first-hand. He swore that his survival was a miracle, and he thus became a deeply religious man for the rest of his life.

After the war, he went to college and later became a biology teacher at a junior college. Some years later, being of German descent, he joined a German heritage club in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a member of the club he formed a friendship with other war veterans. Over (presumably) a few beers, those friendly veterans would exchange war stories. (Here is where this story gets interesting.) Some of the veterans in that group were German immigrants who had fought with the Nazis. Yet, here they now were as good friends exchanging war stories. Amazingly, men who a few decades earlier had been directed to kill each other were now discovering that their former supposed enemies were actually good people who were very easy to befriend.

This is another example (among many) of a war tragedy. The actual soldiers on the opposing sides of battle fields generally have similar interests in regard to their families, friends, careers, education, recreation, sports, entertainment, etc. If they happened to speak the same language and knew each other, they would have enough in common to easily become friends. Generally, they are innocent people who have not been at fault in any way, and are not responsible in any way for the cause of the conflict. Yet, they are the ones who are called upon to sacrifice their lives at times of war, usually not the elite people who initiated the conflict.

As for myself, I am one of 55 first cousins on my mother’s side, many of whom were of eligible age to be drafted during the Vietnam war. One was killed over there. Four more came home emotionally damaged to the point of dying premature deaths. All of them were personal friends. Their families were devastated as a result. Sadly, various architects of that war in governmental positions later acknowledged that the Vietnam war was a mistake. Ironically, in later years, certain conscientious objectors who had refused to participate were praised as heroes for having the courage to resist military service.

In my case, the United States Army classified me as “4F” because of a spinal curvature and high-blood pressure due to a partially obstructed renal artery, meaning I was considered to be physically unfit to serve. Otherwise, I would likely have been required to serve, and might not have survived. Just like some people are lucky enough to win a lottery, I was lucky to be disqualified.

In spite of many differences of opinion on various matters around the world, virtually everybody is in agreement on one issue: Everybody wants their children and grandchildren to be spared from the dangers of ever becoming soldiers in combat on a battlefield. Some people in influential positions may be enthused about sending other people’s kids to war, but certainly not their own.

This book begins with some thought provoking questions. It happens that a very interesting global situation is now emerging from which there is no turning back. This world is about to be confronted with some of the most intriguing thought provoking questions that have never been encountered before in all of world history. Here is a scenario that may soon become a reality:

For the first time in world history, a majority of the world’s youth are interconnected electronically through the internet.
All of them are discovering that they have much in common with similar interests in family, friends, social life, recreation, entertainment, careers, etc., no matter where they live.
All of them are discovering that compatible friendships can easily be formed with people virtually anywhere, in any other country.
In addition, with today’s computerized translators, differing languages are no longer a barrier. One can easily communicate with a friend in another country who speaks a different language with the use of an online written translator or a hand-held voice translator.
Thanks to the internet and electronic communication, today’s youth can see and hear first hand what their friends are doing in other countries. They are no longer dependent on traditional news coverage as in the past. In other words, they are not easily mislead by intentional propaganda (commonly known as fake news). Instead, they can directly connect with their friends in other countries, whom they have no desire to injure or harm, and learn first-hand what is actually happening.
Like it or not, we live in a world where money talks. We desperately need a world in which our youth are gainfully and enthusiastically employed, not only for their own personal satisfaction and happiness, but also to generate enough tax revenue to fund government expenses and associated older age pensioners. One might assume that most governments are well aware of this vital source of revenue and the dire need to not discourage or jeopardize it. As a result, here are some intriguing thought provoking questions:
What if the youth of this world decide that they are willing to take a stand and refuse to physically injure or harm their friends in other countries?
What if the senior citizens of a country who depend upon their youth for tax revenue to support their pensions definitely do not want their youth to be removed from their revenue generating careers and placed in combat instead?
Naturally and obviously, the future of this world is in the minds of today’s youth. What if a majority of youth in a country (think in terms of millions) who are interconnected on the internet decide as a large group that they are not going to participate in military service because they see no reason to risk their lives or harm anyone else, especially people they have befriended on the internet and sincerely like, love and appreciate? What if these youth had their parents’ whole-hearted support? Would such a government be willing to penalize millions of its youth and bring their country’s economy to a virtual halt, with a resulting decline in vital tax revenue needed for government expenses and associated older age pensions?
What if governments came to the realization that if the youth in supposedly opposing countries happen to like each other, the chances of motivating them to physically harm each other are virtually impossible?
Again, the future of this world is in the minds of today’s youth. What if through World Youth’s Mutiny on the Planet, in spite of various politicians’ and arms manufacturers’ wishes to the contrary, World Peace broke out?
What if the funding for world defense was instead diverted to World Beautification?
What if World Beautification, funded by what was previously wasted on defense, resulted in universal education, universal guidance, universal mentoring, and universal reconstruction of everything with sincere considerations for beauty and art?
What if World Beautification Goals and Opportunities resulted in meaningful, satisfying and rewarding employment for everyone?