One of my favourite historical figures from the 20th Century is Albert Einstein. I am sure most of you know all about him or have at least heard of him and if not, then what rock have you been hiding under? Just kidding! If you don't know who he is here's a link to his biography:
In my opinion. Einstein is one of the greatest minds of the 20th century if not of all time. Yes, he contributed to the development of nuclear weapons but realized the potential consequences of those contributions and stated them clearly. if one looks back at his writings - which were extensive - one should come to the conclusion that his ideas were well ahead of his time and probably still are today.
I am no fan of the current world situation be it Muslim fanatacism, American foreign policy or religion in general. I think the latter (formal religion anyway) is one big conspiracy inflicted on mankind by man. Don't you notice that at the end of a sermon in church or on one of those stupid religious programs inflicted on TV viewers every Sunday it always comes down to "make sure you donate". For most of these so-called "men of God" all that really matters to them is money. Look at the the sex scandals of the Catholic Church or the way Muslims treat women etc - it is all bad in most cases.
The dogmatic nature of most religions - Catholicism and Islam are just 2 examples - have contributed to more death and destruction in the history of the human race than any other cause - even more than imperialism. To me the only religions which make some sense are Buddhism (essentially don't harm others is its mantra) and some of the beliefs of native Americans which I don't really think were really "religion" in the formal sense of the word. I admire the latter because the Native Americans believed in the link between the earth, the animals, plants, themselves and what they called the "Creator" - which most other religions call God. Unlike most other religions, native Americans saw themselves as part of the earth, not the supreme beings the other religions say we are. Most of our environmental problems we see today are the result of this "species superiority complex" humans have.
In relation to the subject matter of this post is that Einstein was a leader of the World Government Movement, which essentially proposes that if any order or peace is ever to be found amongst humans and some of the problems we face/create on a global scale, there must be a level of Government that looks at things from a global (as opposed to a nation-state) point of view. Sounds like a good plan to me yet there is little talk of it in todays world even with all the problems we are facing. Religion and nationalism are of course the major stumbling blocks as are human racial predjudices of course to achieving World Government.
Anyway, I want to encourage anyone who reads this post to learn more about Einstein and the concept of World Government. If we reflect on his wisdom and start looking towards global solutions while worrying less about national concerns or interests then and only then do we have a chance to survive what inevitably, will be our own self-destruction. The saddest fact is humans will take down the rest of the world with them when this happens and if things keep going the way they are, the "End" may be closer than we think.
Here are a few quotes from Einstein for everyone to read and ponder what meaning and application they might have in today's sorry world situation.
- I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
Albert Einstein
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein
The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth. The trite subjects of human efforts, possessions, outward success, luxury have always seemed to me contemptible.
Albert Einstein
The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one.
Albert Einstein
Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.
Albert Einstein
Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.
Albert Einstein
Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.
Albert Einstein
The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.
Albert Einstein
You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.
Albert Einstein
If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut.
Albert Einstein
Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player.
Albert Einstein
