To the Editor,
When I was a child, we were united in conflict against the Germans, the Japanese, and the Italians. For personal representatives, there were Hitler, Hirohito, and Mussolini. When I was an adolescent, we were united in a “cold” conflict against the Russians. For personal representatives, there was Stalin, with Khrushchev in his wake. This conflict united our country in opposing communism and its leaders. More recently, there has been ideological conflict regarding human rights with radical Islam. We might have engaged in partisan debate about what to do, but, when we lost two buildings, we became united and chased down one of its leaders.
Violence is natural. It is generated by the genetic agenda to survive and multiply inherent in all living forms. Aggressive conflict in human beings, however, is often motivated by a shame/pride dynamic. Americans have been taught to attack anyone who humiliates us. In any case, be it for the material necessary to survive and multiply, or for revenge after loss of pride, these conflicts are triggered by scarcity. As our people begin to feel scarcity — including a scarcity of pride — they will become adversarial. The promise of being a proud American on “streets of gold” which drew so many has been fulfilled for only a few. A more stable union might be established, with a more realistic agenda regarding wealth, and a rational understanding of pride and shame. If even this feels insufficiently rewarding, or if the educational and cooperative policies required to correct these feelings of scarcity are not enacted, there will be trouble on our streets. Those of us with any common sense had best take shelter.
John Brodsky
Swarthmore
