The Civil War

July 23, 2010

Recently I was drawn to reading a concise illustrated version of The Civil War. This retrospective venture was prompted by looking at several copies of Harper’s Weekly from the 1860’s. By now you are thinking, was has this got to do with the environment, or Peter’s life, or my life for that matter.

The period between 1861 and 1865 was a holocaust of staggering proportions. Approximately 3 million men and boys served both sides in roughly 2200 battles from Vermont to Arizona. When the statistics were in an astonishing realization pervaded the nation – in a Civil War no one wins. There were as many deaths in this one period in our history than all other wars combined, and this was brother against brother, American against American. Hopefully, we have learned our lesson and the vitriol and name calling so pronounced prior to armed conflict between the North and the South does not escalate today.

I am embarrassed for the infantile posturing and name calling of supposed educated adults in the media, halls of congress, and forums around our country – not only are the words ‘liar’ and ‘baby killer’ wrongly attached to two of our nations leaders, they were yelled out as if the combatants were on a playground in junior high school. Words precede deeds and that is why I am concerned.

430 soldiers died each day of the four year Civil War in our country. Angry words preceeded the bullets.

Now, we are seeing angry words directed at well meaning scientists trying to grapple with melting glaciers, warming seas, migrating sea life, disappearing species, vanishing habitats and changing climate patterns across the globe. The scurrilous attacks are offensive and indicating a larger and more serious problem. Words anticipate violence, is not an empty slogan.

Yet, few of us realize that denial of the truth about what is happening globally may lead to millions of people losing their lives; at a rate much higher than 430 a day. In the Concise Illustrated History the writer states: “The war came from the fanaticism of a group of hotheads on each side. The great mass of Americans succumbed to radicalism and therefore exhibited the traits of a blundering generation.’

My generation is now blundering along as the collapsing of creation accelerates. There are 3 groups of people in my generation. Those who feel that it is not their problem, many who deny the truth because to accept the reality would require dramatic changes that few are willing to accept, and those who see the problem and move along with personal changes. There needs to be a fourth category: Those willing to speak truth to power and express the importance of over-throw, paradigm shifting, re-thinking whole systems while sacrificing for the greater good and the future of those we have brought forth in record numbers.