"We are not as Civilized as we think we should be," Who among us does not consider themselves to be Civilized? And yet here we _all_ are. Little more than tribal members trying to hold on to what little we have. Attempting to protect, actively and proactively, our tribe against the threat (perceived real or propagandized) of our most immediate neighbor tribes. Sadly, as Walt Kelly's Pogo once pontificated, "We have met the enemy and they is us." All too often, even today, it is our closest tribal neighbor who has acted in a manner to warrant concern. Equally often our closest tribal neighbor acts proactively to protect their interests, often as a response to a threat (perceived real or propagandized) that their closest tribal neighbor might act proactively. Before it started as an Arms Race it was an Ignorance&Fear Race. The scale of this Ignorance&Fear Race must not be just the skirmishes between competing tribes for land to graze their sheep. It must include the ravages of Colonialism. It must include the socially corrosive effects of Usury Capitalism. At each level of society Ignorance&Fear are promoted, perpetuating the race to volitility. Sadly as well, 'perpetuating the race' is essential to their purposes, whether it is grazing rights or profit margins. I do consider myself Civilized and I do not endorse this 'perpetuating the race'. And yet here we _all_ are. -*-