Our H.S. history books are a procession of wars given very noble places, for the most part, in our national ego, and the successes of nonviolence are briefly covered or ignored completely.
Most people never understand the political and economic dynamics involved in conflicts because it is just easier to believe that there are good guys and bad guys and the US is "always" wears the white hat in situations of conflict. This is easier than thinking. Violence is always the easier route to take. Peace is an ongoing process that needs to be worked at all the time.
Over 50 cultures have been identified by anthropologists that don't or didn't resort to the use of violence to resolve their problems. So it isn't mankind’s destiny or biological makeup to be violent, it is our cultural indoctrination to accept it.
This would change if we began changing the way our culture viewed violence and war as an acceptable solution to conflict. If people received better, more complete educations, especially better global understanding of other people and their ways, this would be this first way to reduce violence in the world.
Taking a proactive approach to peace is another solution that is only given the most meager of support as compared to the world's obscene military budget of over $1.1 Trillion a year.
Leaders need to look at the world and identify the things that are likely to produce future unrest or violence and address those problems in "creative" ways before the situations turn violent. A cabinet level Dept. of Peace would be great for this.
Things like lack of food, medical care, educational opportunities, shelter, work, infrastructure, and access to clean water... all of these would cost much less than the world’s current military budgets; and addressing those issues would create jobs and stabilize economies. This could even create new trade opportunities for the US.
Don't get rid of the military, but begin using it more for humanitarian missions and missions of "construction" instead of destruction. Our soldiers wouldn't come home from those missions with PTSD and could learn skills that would be applicable to civilian life.
The International Network of Museums for Peace has member organizations all over the world, including countries like Iran and Pakistan. These institutions give peace a space in a world that is preoccupied with violence.
The Dayton International Peace Museum, www.daytonpeacemuseum.org, is the only physically open peace museum in the US at this time as compared to the over 140 military museums, some tax payer subsidized.
The Dayton International Peace Museum website averages over 800 visitors a day, last year over 114,000 visitors, so some people do think peace is popular.
Peace can become popular; it just needs to be given a chance. By: peacemuseum