Remember Today the Importance of Co-operation

If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.

Lao Tzu – Chinese philosopher – 6th century BCE

 

Here in Canada, as a commonwealth country, we celebrate Remembrance Day on November 11^th.  We are called to remember The Great War, the supposed “War to end all wars”.  Even now in 2018, we are still not a world at peace. There are wars waging right now between nations, cultures, religions all around the globe. Both sides of a conflict will vehemently defend their position as being the “right” one.

 

Alfred Adler points out that the fundamental capacity to get along with our fellow man in the face of differences still eludes us. We force our will and use methods of domination to get our way.  But at what cost? We do this as countries, as couples and as parents. We have failed to train people how to be co-operative.

 

Many parents here in Canada will argue that the democratic methods of applying consequences instead of punishments and of establishing family meetings to facilitate democratic processes in the family take too long and are too much work. They complain they are too busy for these techniques. That may be true – but I can’t see approaching problems any other way from a moral perspective.

 

I am committed to doing what ever it takes to learn to be a co-operative person and to help others with this same process.  It is a philosophical imperative for me and I hope my books and blogs support your learning about this way of being in relationships too.

Today, and always I wish you peace.