When I write about the damages that were recently caused by militarism in Zimbabwe, I am afraid some readers think that I’m just making noise, just enjoying the sound of my voice. When such things happen, there is no much rebuilding taking place. I wish to reassure everybody who reads my blog, or reading this article, that I would never trouble myself writing about a political problem if I didn’t think the problem had aviable and real solution. 

It’s not your fault if you’ve become so discouraged with the political debate that you now have decided such talk is just another form of aimless rumblings. Perhaps you’ve thought hard about the future of our planet and concluded that we’re stuck with the problems that have plagued us so terribly in the past.

Maybe you subscribe to the widespread belief that war and mass violence are so deeply enmeshed in essential human nature that we must continue to allow military masterminds to spend our money, waste our resources, kill our families in the name of security and order. If so, I believe you’re missing something important that’s changing around you.

But then how can I even write about this topic without sounding like a hope-filled, naive fool? And how can I put forward my arguments for peace when there are so many common misunderstandings about what peace workers believe? These are the problems that have been bugging me recently – bugging me so much that I have thought seriously about not writing politics again.

But, well, I think I’ll slap myself back into productivity by remembering how I get through severe problems that often frustrate me. When I find myself stuck inside a mess of an article that is not just not working out and appears to be beyond repair, I sometimes make a wise decision to start fresh, to rebuild my foundation.

This technique has been a lifesaver for me, and I know it has for other writers too. Start over, back out, throw it all away, rebuild the foundation from the ground up! Words are free; writers have infinite chances to wipe away mistakes and start anew. In this way, writers have it much more comfortable than, say, heart surgeons or airline pilots.

Well, ethical writers have it easier than heart surgeons or airline pilots too. I have been writing about the psychological, sociological, personal and historical events, and even though I’ve made some progress I know, I’ve also occasionally painted myself into corners, lost my logical thread, outlasted the patience of my readers.

It’s time for me to start rebuilding my foundation, and I’m starting today. The two fundamental truths I wish to support are these:

1. War is a fraud. Militarism is a fraud. Xenophobia is a fraud. Fighting is a fraud. There is no intelligent reason why we must continue to support this blight.
2. World peace is not only possible but probable, and we need to get behind the cause. Despite everything going on around us, the likelihood of a final and successful global awakening of peace-loving people around the world may be much stronger than it looks.

The question is, how do we begin rebuilding a consistent and logical foundation upon which these essential truths can be presented and supported? Most importantly, how do we lay out a framework for a comprehensive belief system that supports pacifism and also achieves a level of solidity and consistency that will allow us to defend these truths against many passionate and stubborn doubters?