Make Love Not War

Any society that consists of people who care only for their self interest is a society that is drifting towards chaos and disorder. It is almost natural for most societies to move in this direction. However, there are two factors that can moderate or control this natural degeneration. First is the extent to which balanced decisions are taken when there is a conflict between private agenda and social responsibility. The second factor is the extent to which affirmative actions are taken even when there is no individual benefit and/or there is individual cost.

I have always wondered what can motivate a utility maximising rational human being to socially responsible behaviour There are many theories that I have heard. What gave me an idea was the feeling that I saw in my daughter towards all animals.

I love animals too. Any cute dog or cat does stir up strong affection. The dogs I own also evoke similar feeling. But the stray in the street never induced any such feelings. But when I go out for a walk with my daughter any animal that we see on the road seems to evoke same affectionate response from her. However haggard, sick or full of wounds, bruises and putrefying sores the dog is, my daughter will point out to me “dad look at that dog, isn’t he cute?”

This used to be the case when she was a little child, and even now although she is a teenager. This is true love.

Love is one word people of all nationality, religion, cast, creed and even age know of. But very often the love that we practice is the love that is conditional or limited; conditional upon what you do for me or limited to my family, friends, cast or sect. This is the love that we often see and experience.

The love that will steer a man or woman towards selfless action is the love that is the pure, unlimited and unconditional love for every human being. It is “an intentional response to promote well-being when responding to that which has generated ill-being”.

It is one of the guiding principles of almost all religions; an imploration to “love thy neighbour as yourself”

It is the only sentiment that can make you think again (at least once a while) when you throw litter out of your window, when you break all rules as you drive along, when you cheat on your tax with impunity, when you fan communal hatred through your actions and inactions, when you destroy public property, when you don’t do your bit to reduce pollution and atmospheric degradation, when you support arms race and when you implement policies that short-shift your customers and so on and so forth.

That is why “Make Love Not War” is truly a timeless slogan.

Don’t let that feeling die.Spend a little bit of time teaching this to your little children.

Now close your eyes and listen to “Make Love Not War” by John Lennon