Peacefully resolving international conflicts is ideal, but unrealistic. No matter how many efforts are made by powerful countries or powerful organizations (look at the UN) there will always be some nations that are selfishly trying to gain what's best for their state, by whatever means possible. Even that statement, saying that there will always be some of those countries, is optimistic. In reality, every country in the world has its own best interests in mind. When a country sees those interests threatened, they react, often violently. To expect all international conflicts to be solved without violent beings is, sadly, outlandishly naive. I think that, at least in our life time, a world without WMD's and volatile global conflict can not become a reality. Even when WMD's aren't actually being used, the threat of WMD's in certain countries (look at Iran) causes upheaval and conflict. It's a never ending circle.
I hate to say "just give up on world peace," but quite honestly, at this point I think the government's focus should be placed on peace at home. We should focus on eliminating our own country's culture of death. Guns of course play a huge role in this culture, as has been so discussed as of late. Unfortunately, our founding fathers were not psychic and therefore had no way of knowing the debates they would spur with the writing of the Second Amendment. Ending the pervading violence in America starts with strict limitations on gun use. Unfortunately, the NRA is actually the worst organization that every existed, and I am fairly certain it is comprised of a bunch of insane people. So that's not good. Because the NRA has a lot of pull in Congress. EVEN THOUGH THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION IS NUTS. I heard an interview on NPR the other day where the president of the NRA kept talking about how we have to get guns out of the hands of madman and put ARMED POLICE OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS. IS HE EVEN SERIOUS. LIKE EXCUSE ME MR. NRA PRESIDENT BUT YOU'RE CRAZY. There are two problems here. The first is that the NRA wants to fight fire with fire, so to speak, in that to solve the gun issue, the want MORE GUNS (with the police officers in schools). The second problem is that the NRA is addressing the issue of guns specifically in regards to the Newtown shooting. Yes, that was a horrific tragedy, but what the NRA seems to neglect to acknowledge is that dozens of people are shot in cities every single day. Why is no one raising this issue? Why are we focusing on an errant school shooting when guns are so ubiquitous in the every day lives of people in many parts of the country? I don't understand it.
Then of course there's the less daunting but obvious answer that pop culture encourages violence: video games, music, movies, TV shows.... That, in theory, could be easily rectified. But it won't be. Freedom of Expression and all that. Damn that Bill of Rights. Did you know that there are no guns in England? NO GUNS. Like 15 people are murdered per year. England doesn't have a Bill of Rights...
Anyway, the most immediate and sensible solution I can see is addressing the issue of violence directly in our own communities...perhaps through programs such as Homeboy Industries or Project Home or anything else that gets people off the streets.
