A Follow Up

This article is fascinating to me

http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2007/schall_warofideas_sept07.asp

I had fully expected my older brother to comment on the last one, and he must be just slacking off to not have had any comments whatsoever. I am hoping he will read and comment on this one as I would love to know his insights.

The premise behind this article is that this "war of ideas" is not separate from war. It is the catalyst and basis behind any war. Physical war comes out of different ideological opinions. War is the physical manifestation that occurs when intolerance of another's (another meaning an individual or a culture) beliefs. The author states that "peace" can only come if we all learn to tolerate the ideas of others.

What I take from this is the emphasis on respect for others. Respect for their religious beliefs, their social beliefs, their way of life, their ideology. Until we can fully respect the differences between individuals and cultures, we will always have war.

But we are human. Will we ever really respect the differences of others? Can any one culture NOT try and project and expand their own into others'? Can any religion not try and convert others when most religious dogmas preach that as a fundamental mission? Is it possible to achieve a world of repect and tolerance? I would like to think that humanity can achieve that, but maybe thats the glass-half-full personality talking.