Published: May 21, 2008 07:09 am         

RANDOM THOUGHTS: Another Memorial Day is upon us

Monday, many will pause to remember this day was designated a holiday to honor the dead of all wars. The tradition began after the Civil War when a small group of southern ladies took flowers to the cemetery and decorated the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers. It was known as Decoration Day for many years until it was changed to Memorial Day after many more wars. This year there will be many fresh memories from yet another war.

If the world truly loves peace and hates war, why do we still have wars? In my dictionary the first meaning of peace is the absence of war or other hostilities. A third definition is freedom from quarrels and disagreement: harmonious relations.

The first definition covers countries and large groups but the second involves smaller groups such as families. Don’t all families have disagreements? Usually they are worked out but not always. If even blood relation can’t settle differences it is even harder for one or more large countries with different cultures to keep a situation from escalating.

Since the beginning of history war has been with the human race. It wasn’t until the end of the Middle Ages that philosophers and statesmen began thinking seriously how to achieve an everlasting peace. Erasmus, in the 16th century, said, “The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war.” Perhaps Neville Chamberlain had that in mind after he met with Hitler in 1937 and returned to England saying, “Peace for our time…. peace with honor.”

When the long Napoleonic Wars ended, the Holy Roman Empire had dissolved and the loss of that influence brought about the formation of the Holy alliance to try to keep international order. It failed.

The next great conflict was WWI. At its end the League of Nations was organized. The hope was as Joseph Conrad wrote, “What all men are really after is some form, or perhaps only some formula of peace.” It failed.

Still another long war was waged. At WWII’s end the United Nations became the hope of the world. It too has not fulfilled our hopes. In 1945 George Marshall uttered these words, “If man does find the solution for peace it will be the most revolutionary reversal of his record we have ever known.”

These three attempts by the great powers in the world failed because success depended on their ability to work in unison to keep peace. Instead the particular interests of each great power prevailed over the preservation of peace which they were supposed to protect in common.

Why is finding the answer to a lasting peace so elusive when humans have made such great strides in other fields. One of the most unbelievable was the Moon landing. The world watched as Neil Armstrong descended the ladder and stepped on the lunar surface. He spoke the historic words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Back on Earth Armstrong was asked if man will be able to live on the Moon. His answer was, “But there’s a much more important question than whether man will be able to live on the Moon. We have to ask ourselves whether man will be able to live together down here on Earth.”

A simple sentence but so profound and the answer to a lasting peace.