I HAVE BEEN ASKED if I have any ideas for peaceful solutions tosome of our world and national problems. For one, I think a verylong stride toward world peace would be the establishment of aworld language.
I first ran into the language barrier in Spanish-speaking Mexico,where I could speak to people only through my translated messageand my smile.Then in the Province of Quebec in Canada I ran into itagain. Canada is a bilingual country.The schools in Quebec are conductedin French, and many of the people in Quebec cannot speakEnglish. I had a translated message, and I was offered food and shelterthrough sign language. But there the communication just aboutended. It made me realize anew the great need for a world language.
I think a committee of experts appointed by the United Nationsshould decide as quickly as possible what language would be best.
Once a world language is decided upon it can be taught in all theschools along with the national language, so that very soon every literateperson in the world can talk to every other literate person inthe world. I think this would be the biggest single step we could taketoward world understanding, and a long stride toward world peace.
When we can talk together we will realize that our likenesses are somuch greater than our differences, however great our differencesmay seem.
On Democracy and Society.
I define democracy as control by the people. Slaves are thosewho allow others to control their lives. Insofar as people succeed insolving their problems fairly and efficiently at a grassroots level, theyretain control over their lives. Insofar as they delegate their problemsolving to a higher authority, they lose control over their lives.
We have a goodly amount of individual democracy—for example,the right of a minority of one to continue to speak. And we have a lotof political democracy. We are making progress on social democracy.
If we had social democracy every human being would be evaluatedaccording to merit, not according to groups. We’ve legislated in thatdirection; we need to go a long way still, but we’re getting there.
Where we fall the shortest is in economic democracy. Here wehave not too much control and I’m concerned about this. Remember,if we want to set a good example to the world we must improveourselves. I’ll tell you a sad story:
I was walking through someone’s living room.Two comedians ontelevision were making jokes before a live audience and one of themsaid, “I got a medal from my company.” “Why?” “I found a way tomake their product wear out quicker!” And everybody in that liveaudience laughed.
This is no laughing matter. Raw materials are in short supply;energy is running out. Future generations will look upon us as idiotsfor manufacturing for obsolescence.Yes, everybody knows what weare doing and they even laugh about it. This needs to be remedied,obviously.
The other thing that needs to be remedied is unemployment. Iam terribly concerned about it. Some seven or eight million of ourfellow human beings in this country are unemployed.And what doesthat do to people? They deteriorate psychologically because they arebeing told by society that they are not needed, that there is no placefor them. Unemployment is a terrible thing.We need to remedy thisand we need to remedy it immediately.
I would suggest that after a certain length of time all employableunemployed could apply for community work, funded as welfare isfunded.The work wouldn’t even need to be full time, but they wouldbe earning what they received.
There is no psychologically well person who does not wish to bemeaningfully occupied with something. I understand there are a fewpsychologically sick people—especially those who have been unemployedfor a long time and have terribly deteriorated. But this is nottrue of most people. Most people would actually jump at the chanceto be able to do something.
From a spiritual point of view, the best way to cope with anythingthat is out of harmony, such as communism as it is practicedtoday, is never to fear it—that gives it power. Bring good influencesto bear upon it; make yourself a good example. Never try to overcomeit by adopting its false philosophy. For instance, part of thephilosophy of communist governments is said to be ‘The end justifiesthe means’—which is actually the philosophy of all countries that usewar as a means. Rather, adopt the spiritual philosophy of ‘The meansdetermine the end,’ and remember only a good means can really attaina good end.
We can only change through example. Therefore, if I had thepower to do so in this country I would set a very gentle, good example.
I would establish a Peace Department in our government. Itwould have very useful work to do. It would research peaceful waysof resolving conflicts, war prevention measures and economicadjustments to peace. It would be established with some fanfare andwe would ask every other nation to establish similar departments andcome and work with us for peace. I think many nations would bewilling to do so. Communications among the Peace Departmentswould be a step toward peace in our world.
During the war in Vietnam I asked my correspondents from allover the world the same question: “What country do your fellowcountrymen consider to be the biggest menace to the peace of theworld?” The answer was unanimous. It wasn’t Russia and it wasn’tChina. It was us! I asked, “Why?” The answers varied a bit.The Orientalsanswered, “Because you are the only nation that used thenuclear bomb to kill people, and there is no evidence that you mightnot do so again.” In South America and Latin America they tended tosay, “It’s Vietnam today—it will be us tomorrow.” In Europe andsome other places the answer tended to be, “Your economy worksmost smoothly i............