I think that instead of being a worldly wise figure with a well-rounded adult view of the world
you come across as a churlish depressed teenager yourself.

"the first country that lays down it's arms in a declaration of world peace will promptly be invaded by every other country on the planet, will probably get it's population killed for being so stupid, and will deserve it for being the first country to ever be conquered by Vanuatu."

There are a number of countries with no standing armies.

The idea of world peace may be a pipe dream right now but the point is, rather obviously, that campaigning for world peace helps reduce the likelihood of world war. It was the constant anti-war campaigning, for example, that helped end the Vietnam conflict.

Cynical, defeatist attitudes just make you a pathetic doormat for the next self-serving politician.

I'd rather be an idealist than a doormat.

And the idea that the human race owes it's dominance to warfare is a ridiculous over-simplification. It owes it's dominance to tool use and the increased brain power that came with it. After that humans are probably best served by their ability to trade - you know, the thing that you can only really do successfully in peacetime.

I fucking hate the 'ooo look at me I'm so wise and cynical' attitude that seems to pervade the western world. I bet your attitude would chance somewhat were you to be caught up in a real war.
( chenobble rocking his explorer beard on, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 10:10, Reply)