"They create a desolation and call it peace"

by changeling 4 Replies latest jw friends

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  changeling

  The historian Tacitus penned these words in his "Agricola". He is said to be quoting the king of the Britons upon being conquered by the Romans.

  The Romans established the "Pax Romana", but at what cost? Did they really bring peace to the then know world, or did they just trade one corrupt system for another?

  And how did they come about this "peace"? By killing and pillaging their enemies. Is this "peace"?

  I heard this quote today in the movie "The Great Debaters". As soon as I heard it I thought: "The new system, which is supposed to bring perfect peace, is supposed to come about by destroying most of the people alive today. How is that "peaceful"?

  I also thought: Hasn't every war ever fought been based on the premise of "peace" as it's goal? "Let's kill all our enemies so we can have peace!" Peaceful thoughts indeed...

  changeling
• 

  erynw

  Yep, it doesn't make sense. A lot of things done in the name of religion make no sense to me. Like, extreme pro-lifers who bomb abortion clinics, killing the doctors, nurses, and patients, because these same doctors and nurses are murderers in their eyes. I don't understand.
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  SacrificialLoon

  The Pax Romana was the longest period of peace in Europe up till and including now.
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  changeling

  Yes SacrifialLoon, but it wasn't all it was cracked up to be: http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide03/part04.html

  changeling
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  Abandoned

  Good point. That does sound like an accurate description of the peace they desire.

  It's another one of the things that always bothered me with the religion. How could they ever have true peace when it had to be achieved by destroying those who disagreed? Even if they did convince the survivors that those destroyed needed to be destroyed, wouldn't they have, as the years passed by, increasing doubts? Is it really that east to turn off ALL feelings for fellow beings?