The state of the world

[neilius]

I dont want to be a pessimist or make anyone depressed but after watching the news this morning (News 24 Sunday, BBC 1), it seems to me that all the terrorism, starvation and general suffering in the world is absolutely disgusting.
There is no equality in the world. People are still dying from starvation as i type. Extremists are still plotting as i type.
I dont have any solutions to these problems, my intent in starting this thread is for you to post your thoughts on the current state of the world.
Have some good things to say as well if you can post them here.

[BrianD]

Apart from terrorism, I don't think much has got worse in the World over the last century. Most things have actually improved. The standard of living of most countries is higher now than a 100 years ago, nutrition is improving per capita, agricultural yields are higher than ever, life expectancy is improving around the globe .....the list of improvements is almost endless.

The difference is that individuals and small groups of radical minorities now have the means and the willpower to hold the majority to ransom in a manner that in the past was largely reserved for countries. They are not necessarily poor (all of the recent terrorists were middle class) and they are not necessarily suffering (of course some are but this is not a prerequisite to terrorism).

[neilius]

we are certainly more developed than even say 10 years ago, its just there seems to be a climate of fear just about wherever you go on the planet.
I grew up in the 70's and 80's under the threat of a mushroom cloud ( i.e cold war) and now it seems that the topic of fear is on the agenda again.

[BrianD]

I agree with you there about fear - certain 'rules' of society have been repeatedly broken - the general public is the target of 'causes' more than a decade ago - and in a largely unpredictable way. It is understandable that people in the UK will be on edge at present - but give it 6 months without an incident and that will settle.

Fear is more disabling than the bombs themselves.

[neilius]

I agree Brian. The people of London are doing fine, I was on the phone to my friend down there yesterday and people are just going about their daily lives as normal. You cant do anything else really. On the News there was people coming back from Egypt, from the suicide bombers attacks there; Going on holiday from a city thats had suicide attacks to another one. New York, Madrid, Israel, London, Egypt; Where next?
Back to topic:
The technological advances the human race has made in the last generation are staggering. The internet, Probes in space ( Voyager is entering interstellar space, if it gets past the Oort cloud, it will probably be around for eternity; the legacy of mankind), advances in Medicine, Archeological discoveries, The human DNA unravelled, it goes on. After all the terrible things that are going on in the world, there are great things happening too.
As the Chinese say, We are living in interesting times.

[Joe]

Hi Neil,
Wow.......How do I start this off? You know me, and you know i'd love to see peace in this world, but I don't see it in the near future. Terrorism is out of control, and there seems to be nothing we can do about it. IT S##KS!
Suffering in the world seems to be the same as usual, which makes me think, in this day and age, it shouldn't be as usual. Why can't our governments get together and help EVERYONE, not just there own?

Well........I'll post on this subject later. It's early and,... THANKS FOR MAKING ME DEPRESSED AT THIS HOUR NEIL! ha ha

[neilius]

Sorry to make you depressed Joe!
No peace in the near future, yes, it seems like things are going to get worse before they get any better.
What is the long-term future going to be like for mankind?
Is it going to be like Star Trek or like Mad Max? Unfortunately, it looks like Mad Max as far as i can see. Soylent Green anyone?

[Yes2Yes]

I dont want to be a pessimist or make anyone depressed but after watching the news this morning (News 24 Sunday, BBC 1), it seems to me that all the terrorism, starvation and general suffering in the world is absolutely disgusting.
There is no equality in the world. People are still dying from starvation as i type. Extremists are still plotting as i type.
I dont have any solutions to these problems, my intent in starting this thread is for you to post your thoughts on the current state of the world.
Have some good things to say as well if you can post them here.

Maybe one day their will be Peace in the world. I don't want to sound gloomy but since time began the world has seen conflicts. Most wars are fought over religion. If you take two people of different faiths and put them in a room they are able to discuss the merits of their beliefs. However if you have many people in that same room more than likely violence will interject. I guess my point is people follow leaders. Leaders for whatever reason feel compelled to make their followers commit acts of violence against one another. History has shown that people will follow blindly even though they know in their hearts what they are doing is against the laws of humanity.

[neilius]

Maybe one day their will be Peace in the world. I don't want to sound gloomy but since time began the world has seen conflicts. Most wars are fought over religion. If you take two people of different faiths and put them in a room they are able to discuss the merits of their beliefs. However if you have many people in that same room more than likely violence will interject. I guess my point is people follow leaders. Leaders for whatever reason feel compelled to make their followers commit acts of violence against one another. History has shown that people will follow blindly even though they know in their hearts what they are doing is against the laws of humanity.

Ironically, most of the worlds faiths beleive that a grand age of peace shall prevail in the last days, but it has been the last days with every generation going back to biblical times.
This said, I do beleive that we are in an age like no other since the dawn of time.

[Jackaranda]

The world's screwed up, no doubt about it. I often feel like I'm some kind of alien sent to the wrong place.

Now many of us have children and hopefully they will do whatever they can to make it a bit better. I've noticed how Yesfans' kids all seem very good hearted and spiritual.

[yesiam]

Bright spot break!!!!!!

[Jackaranda]

Well it's not ALL bad!!

Nice one Carol.

[neilius]

Miserable thread isnt it? shall i delete?

[yesiam]

Not at all :) I was just adding a good thing, like you said in the first post. I feel very fortunate today to have sunflowers. If you'd talked to me last week, I'd have had to dig pretty hard to find something positive.

[cinderella]

I like it here. There's always been problems of some sort - there always will be. I certainly wouldn't have liked the world 100 or 200 years ago. And at least when I get a cold, I know I won't die from it. Think of the good things you have.

[Skyward]

Because of western media's obsession with sensationalism, only bad news grabs the front page. The world is still replete with stunning beauty and occasionally, even the good works of man shine through.

Perhaps, we as a people should stand steadfast against greed and corruption by uniting in deed instead of just words. That's right, I'm advocating a global stoppage of both work and purchase even if only for a day. With a bit of luck, the message may get through.

A few thousand participants would hardly suffice. It would truly take a global effort. Am I partaking of the hooka too much? Well, maybe, but I am one of many hopeless dreamers.

[neilius]

I am glad that positive words have been posted!

[THEANCIENT1]

let me start out by saying this there is a lot of positive in the world today. the first thing that comes to mind is this group and others like it. There is a ocmmon thread, theme, goal here its wbout yes. THats positive right down to the word and the band. If you think about CTTE and TFTO they are like a guide to live ones life by atleast i try to. there is so much inspiration in Jon's lyrics and strength of the movement of the music. Speaking for only myself I was not raised with religon not that I am sayoing religon is bad but I identified with the sole purpose of what jon was saying about finding spirituality without religon. Enlightenment is the true meaning of life. I remember listening to Jon talking in his introduction to AYAI basically telling people at the Duke University 11-11-72 show that they were responsible for the future and they needed to take responsibility for the world as a whole and be responsible for their actions.

With everything that is going on in the world and believe me for may reasons I am glad to be an american and I have pride in americans andthe true meaning of the people. I do however do not have a lot of pride in the government. Now I know I am going to get a lot of flak for this But who's democracy are we really preserving? I will say this how does our government have the right to go and take control of another country and force them to adopt The governments version of democracy. When they can't even get it right here. I find I have a hard time believing that we are doing hte right thing for people who live in other countries. Now I am not stupid and I do know that things do need to be done to protect the citizens in their own countries. I believe we also need ot look and see what is going on in our own back yard to see what is really the cause of the problems in the world. After all we are the largest super power aren't we. Mind you This is more food for thought these are things I do believe but its more of a statement than pushing my ideas on other people. I do however know this that the government has put these terrorists into power and when they are done with them they act as though they had nothing to do with them but that is the reality we send money countries for aid but what kind of aid are we really sending money for arms. WHat I am really getting at is there is a lot more going on with our government than anyone really knows and the president is going to wrap it all up in a nice little box and a dumb littlesmile thats supposed to convince the nation that what the govenrment is doing is the right thing. anyway I am rambling those are just my thoughts and i guess I feel that the only difference between Our Government is toehr governments and countries don't try to hide what they do and our government does hide it.
thanks for you time and patience and for giving me the forum to express my feelings.
And once again I am saying I offer no apologies for my feelings becasue you can't protect someone from how they feel but is not ment to offend anyone in the group at all
thanks
Dan

[Ktrek]

Maybe one day their will be Peace in the world. I don't want to sound gloomy but since time began the world has seen conflicts. Most wars are fought over religion.

Actually, this is a misconception. I don't mean to take issue with you but historically most wars have been about land, power and political ideologies. Religion has been a cause for war but in actuality it plays a very small part in world history.

Kevin

[tormatotork]

Have you ever seen the start of 2001? That's what this world is about. Sadly there are not enough people hugging trees, arsing about with crystals or chanting mantras to change it. The worlds gone mad. Do your best.