Project Peace and Goodwill Part 1
Posted November 10, 1999
Introduction
“Project Peace and Goodwill is a ship with not one Columbus, but many. With such power none can stop it from sailing over that ocean called ‘Impossible’.”
Perhaps the above quote from this following treatise sets the tone of its purpose more than anything else. Indeed Project Peace and Goodwill sets out to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Its goal is to rid the world of all nuclear arms and war itself, eventually bringing a perpetual peace on earth.
More fascinating still is the fact that herein is at last presented a solid, intelligent and workable plan that will fire the hearts and minds of humanity with vision and belief that the words: PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO MANKIND will finally become a reality.
Is there a better time to present such a plan than the beginning of a new millennium? Mankind certainly needs a candle of hope that this next thousand years will not yield a nuclear winter, but will hold for us sunny skies, green pastures and children with wonder in their eyes looking forward to a brighter and brighter future.
THE UNIVERSAL THREAT
The great heart of humanity trembles more at this one thought than any other: NUCLEAR WAR – AND THE DESOLATION THAT WOULD FOLLOW. Never before has nature or even man himself placed before him such an ominous threat that pierces him to the center and makes him quake with fear for himself and future generations.
In the past man has bravely faced his enemies, his cruel dictators, wars, persecutors, conquistadors, wild animals, savages, hurricanes, floods, and even the violent shakings of the Earth, but until now he has never faced an enemy so overwhelming as that created by the collective mind of humanity when the power of the atom was unleashed. This new enemy is wielded by both friend and foe – both are to be feared and neither trusted.
Mankind now has such great power in his hands that one fears that his own countrymen in a weak or accidental moment may detonate the bomb that will lead to the destruction of the entire world, and there would be no men or history books left to record the greatest blunder of all time.
The real enemy here is not an opposing tribe, nation, people, or even an ideology, but man himself, and wherever there is a person who has power to detonate a nuclear bomb, there we have the potential slayer of mankind – one like ourselves who simply made a mistake: A mistake so grave that we want to hide our heads in the sand and not think about it.
On the other hand, the person who presses the doomsday button is not the one to be held responsible for the destruction of civilization. We are. If parents allow a child to play with a stick of dynamite, and he lights the fuse and blows them up -who is responsible? Certainly not the child, but the parents who should know better.
If you and I allow another person in an insane moment to blow us off the face of the Earth with nuclear or other weapons, similarly, he is not the one to be held responsible. Instead, it is those who know better: general humanity – you and I.
Many parents cry about the mistakes of their children and blame the little ones for their misfortunes, but it is no more ridiculous for humanity, the parents of government, to cry over the possibility of their leaders destroying them, than it is for parents to cry over their children because they have made mistakes through lack of discipline.
You and I, common ordinary people, are the ones who have the supreme power and responsibility, and we must now awake to the fact that we can, will, and must subject the leaders of the nations to discipline so they will lay down their terrible toys, and cease their childish threatenings of desolation, and follow the peaceful way.
From the heart of humanity comes the Plan for Peace – a physical peace that will also lead to an inner peace of mind. Imagine how much better the parents of the world will feel knowing that their children will surely grow to maturity and face a life full of opportunities, a life that will not be cut short by an insane atomic war!
The Plan must not be identified with a political party, else the opposition, in their pride, will oppose it. Neither must it be identified with a religion, race, creed, or nation. Indeed, it must come from the midst of common people: neither the famous, nor wealthy, nor powerful, but a true representation of humanity itself. Only thus initiated can the Plan have the necessary power and momentum to synthesize the people and consummate the great words which are the hope of the world: PEACE ON EARTH; GOODWILL TO MEN.
Project Peace and Goodwill is thus initiated to achieve this very end, which end must be reached by humanity itself through the use of its own freewill. We recognize that no outside power will force man to live in peace, but he must make that decision for himself.
We believe that humanity has come of age and the majority of people want the nations of the world to lay down their desolating weapons and never take them up again. Many there are who deeply desire to trust their fellow men and live their lives without fear – for nations must learn to tolerate each other, make compromises, and spread goodwill, just as a men and women must deal peacefully with their neighbors.
Most individual human beings have become mature enough so they have no desire to store explosives in their basements for possible use against their neighbors. It is time that the nations as a whole rise to the level of the common man and with one accord covenant to make harmless their weapons of desolation and never seek to again threaten the destruction of humanity.
Project Peace and Goodwill is to be the most cosmopolitan group ever established for its goal reaches into the hearts of men in every nation: PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO MEN. Who would want to argue with it or fight against such a lofty ideal? The words sound good and strike a chord in even the basest of mankind. Indeed, it would be criminal for anyone to lift a finger to discourage such a project. Nevertheless, there will be many who will arise with objections.
Some of the objections to be expected are:
(1) Such a goal is impossible and can never be accomplished. The leaders of the nations are too corrupt.
(2) Only God can bring peace on the Earth and cause men to lay down their arms.
(3) The world is doomed to destruction by God and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
We will briefly counter these three objections.
Objection One: There are always those laggards who claim that progress is impossible. They heckled Columbus, the Wright Brothers, Edison, and every other visionary thinker who ever walked the globe. Their watchword has always been: “Impossible”. It’s as if their sole purpose is to try and discourage those few who would work to benefit humanity.
“Impossible”, said Napoleon, “That is not good French!” Another named Napoleon Hill said: “That which the mind of man can conceive and believe – it can achieve.”
Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men has been conceived, and it is believed by many, so there is no reason why it cannot be achieved.
Disarmament and peace become possible when men believe they are possible, not before and not later. The truth is that mankind tries to limit itself to the eternal hostile atmosphere of the beast. Instead he should set his limitless vision on the peaceful horizons and proceed. Project Peace and Goodwill now sets that vision and men everywhere are called to set their sights on it and accept the possibility so the only barrier – man’s limited thinking – can be removed.
Project Peace and Goodwill is a ship with not one Columbus, but many. With such power none can stop it from sailing over that ocean called “Impossible”.
Objection Two: Many sincerely religious people adhere to objection number two: that only supernatural interference can bring peace on the Earth. Project Peace and Goodwill is not a religious organization and makes no pronouncements about God, for both believers and nonbelievers must work together in the light of reason to accomplish its great goals. We will, however, point out that there are many who have an unrealistic dependency upon the supernatural that is not supported in any of the world scriptures.
For instance there were many near the beginning of World War II who believed the Allies should not fight Hitler that God would take care of him. It wasn’t long before the pacifists in England woke up to the fact that they and their countrymen must immediately ACT or live under the power of the ruthless dictator, and that God was not going to do for them what they had to do for themselves
It should be obvious to believers and nonbelievers alike that the responsibility for peace rests upon man alone for the only way God or anyone else could cause mankind to live in peace when he is not ready is to play the role of a ruthless dictator, take man’s freewill away, and force him to do right. History does not record any such event happening nor do we expect any Divine interference that destroys the freewill of man.
The third common objection or problem is that there are many who believe unalterably in a doomsday. Many there are who believe the world will soon end and there is nothing anyone can do about it, but accept it. About once a year from time immemorial a significant new group has arisen preaching the end of the world and setting a date. Periodically the newspapers record how the groups sell all their belongings and retire to some designated place where they alone will be saved from the end of the world. Without exception each of these groups has been sadly disappointed.
Nevertheless, a doomsday is possible now we are in the nuclear age, but it is only a possibility and it can be avoided by the thoughtful will of humanity. Indeed it is something that MUST be avoided at all costs.
If an all out nuclear war were to occur about the best we could look forward to would be the preservation of some human life. If some were to survive these would undoubtedly revert to tribal living and civilization could be set back a thousand years or more.
Doomsday does not have to happen. If humanity accepts the goals of Project Peace and Goodwill then the great holocaust will be proven to be a mere madman’s dream and future generations will look upon this point in time as a great turning point for the human family.
Project Peace and Goodwill Part II
MEMBERSHIP
To prevent a doomsday from ever materializing we are issuing the DECLARATION OF PEACE AND GOODWILL. This Declaration will be sent to all the nations of the world with the hope that they will endorse it and abide by its covenants. All people are invited to join Project Peace and Goodwill In this great endeavor.
Things that are not required for membership are as follows:
(1) First, a person is not required to support any particular creed, philosophy, or religion.
(2) One is not required to leave any religious or group affiliation.
(3) One is allowed to disagree with group ideas and still actively cooperate in areas of agreement.
(4) Membership is not to be denied because of race, sex, or belief, but is opened to all men and women.
Members should support the following objectives:
(1) The member (or supporter) should have a strong personal desire to see an actual and permanent peace and disarmament established through the freewill of man. However, the member should not be willing to sacrifice freedom and liberty for peace. A forced peace is not peace at all and is not caused by a uniting of the hearts and minds, for when the force is released the physical peace ends. Only through the uniting of the hearts and minds of men through freewill can a true and lasting peace be established.
(2) The member should support the principle of Goodwill, or right thinking toward all mankind. All mankind are to be looked upon as brothers and sisters no matter what their nationality, race, or ideology. In both belief and deed one should work toward establishing right relationships with his immediate associates, with his family on up, always trying to release the energy of love and treat all with consideration and justice. He should be willing to do unto others as he would have others do unto him.
(3) He should support the principle of freedom and liberty for himself and all men and not be willing to sacrifice it at any cost. Man must be free to express himself without fear and to pursue happiness in any way that does not harm others.
(4) He should recognize that first aggression is the destroyer of peace and work toward its cessation. The nation, group, or individual who takes the first aggressive step is ALWAYS wrong. There is no exception in history. Napoleon was misdirected in his aggression. Hitler was wrong when he invaded Poland, and all present day first aggressions are terrible sins against humanity.
IF THERE WERE NO FIRST AGGRESSION, THERE WOULD NOT BE A SECOND. Let this statement be engraved in the hearts and minds of the Peacekeepers throughout the world until it becomes the watchword of human peace.
All Peacemakers must be completely unbiased, especially concerning their particular religious and political beliefs. If one believes that Israel is God’s chosen land, for instance, he still must not support a first strike by them. If he is a great believer in the Koran he must be able to decry an aggressive act by the Arabs. If a peacemaker is a member of the Communist party he must not support a move by his mother country to forcefully expand her dominion. And if one is an American he must not close his eyes to American first aggression. National and religious fixations must be put aside if world peace is to become a reality.
All Peacemakers must realize that aggression is aggression whether it be initiated by an enemy, or his favorite prophet, priest, or king. If the German people would have realized during World War II that their real enemy was not the Allies, but their beloved Hitler, the great war of the ages would have never been. The Third World War will never be if we can make hindsight our foresight and be willing to stand up and condemn aggression for what it really is.
In current feuds the initiator can usually be traced and pointed out. All new aggression in such cases should be decried. Nothing embarrasses a leader or dictator more than to have public opinion, or world opinion turn against him. If the Peacemakers can turn public opinion against an aggressor it is a major step toward subduing him.
(5) The member should support, not a reduction, not a freeze, but complete ELIMINATION of all arms and weapons that have the potential of destroying life on this planet. Conventional weapons could also be limited and armies reduced in size. This would save the nations untold billions. The money could then be spent on projects that will benefit mankind. The problem of turning this into a reality is that each nation wants the other nation(s) to make the larger step in reduction so that it can maintain a military advantage. Project Peace and Goodwill should play the watchdog and point out to the public who it is that is preventing wise action on this matter.
Disarmament is not complicated. It is so simple a child can understand it. Securing cooperation and trust among the nations, however, is the complicated part. Only a strong public opinion generated by a united organization such as Project Peace and Goodwill can shame the nations into laying down their arms. Too many leaders like to rattle their irons and push buttons. The total solution cannot be left up to them. It must be taken on by humanity itself, ordinary people like you and I. When humanity raises its voice loud enough, the leaders of the nations will listen – and respond.
Imagine a world where there is no threat of nuclear biological destruction. Would not one feel better about bringing children into the world knowing that they will actually live to become adults and be able to pursue health and happiness? Think long and hard on what a difference this will make, for such a massed human thought on such a wonderful idea will help to make it a reality.
Disarmament should never be undertaken unilaterally or on any unreasonable grounds. Those who thoughtlessly promulgated a one sided disarmament of the Allies in the thirties paved the way for the unchecked rise of Hitler. Then too, if they had not woke up at the last moment and armed themselves to meet the challenge we may very well be living under a Nazi government today. Common sense must always rule. Those who would support a one sided disarmament are living in a world of illusion. Nevertheless, it must enter into the consciousness of the human family that a complete nuclear and biological disarmament and world peace are attainable.
The main hindrance to world peace is that there are few who believe it is currently possible. The common man desires world peace and nuclear disarmament, but he must believe in it for it to be achieved.
THE PURPOSE OF PROJECT PEACE AND GOODWILL
Project Peace and Goodwill has three main purposes:
First, it is to instill in the minds of average humanity the idea that disarmament and peace are a real possibility and not the mere dream of a visionary. Many people will gladly accept it if it is presented to them correctly. This will be a major accomplishment, for peace cannot occur unless there is first a belief in peace.
Second, Project Peace and Goodwill will monitor present efforts toward disarmament and peace and give encouragement in the right direction. It will keep the public informed of progress and make suggested future steps that can be taken.
Third, it presents a logical Plan for nuclear disarmament and peace between the nations. After this is accepted then disarmament of conventional weapons will also be undertaken.
In the end of this treatise the reader will find an outline of the Plan which is called THE DECLARATION OF PEACE AND GOODWILL. Project Peace and Goodwill will promulgate this Declaration throughout the world until it, or something very similar to it is accepted.
We believe this Declaration is the most important document in the history of man for it pertains to the very survival of our species.
If a nuclear war were to break out one of two things would happen:
(1) Mankind would become completely extinct.
(2) Mankind would become almost extinct and the few that would be left would revert to tribal living. Civilization could take a long period of time to get back to the point where we are now.
The salvation of mankind from either of these fates would make The Declaration of Peace and Goodwill the most important document in history.
Fate number one is particularly dreadful to think about. This would be a blunder without historical parallel. Man has made many mistakes in his history, but each one has been correctable. If a kingdom or the entire world has fallen into the wrong hands the progress of man may be hindered a generation or two, but sooner or later man sees his mistake, becomes wiser than before, and sets himself on a cycle of greater advancement. Such would and could not be the case with a total destruction of humanity. It would be a mistake beyond repair from our finite viewpoint.
Let us contemplate such a tragic event just long enough to wake us from our sleep and then shift our attention to the fact (and we must make it a fact) that mankind will solve the problems that face him and peacefully enter a future more glorious than the race has ever enjoyed before.
Project Peace Part III
HOW THE PLAN WILL BE ACCEPTED
The main question in people’s minds will be as to how The Declaration of Peace and Goodwill will be accepted. Most will think that it sounds good, but that the leaders of the world are too stubborn to accept it. This is true. If we did nothing more than present the Plan to world leaders we may be assured that nothing would happen.
Fortunately, there is a greater power in the world than government and its leaders, and that is those people who create and support the government -common people like you and I. The average person may not be aware of it, but the general public is the most powerful force in the world. Public opinion is the master, of all world leaders. It can place them in power, but it can just as quickly remove them.
“But,” says one, “That may be true in a free country, but not in a totalitarian regime.”
The man who thinks thus is mistaken. Public opinion is the master in all nations among all peoples. Even Hitler, the archenemy of mankind, realized this. He knew that the only way he could stay in power and achieve his aims was to manipulate public opinion so it would be on his side. He carefully controlled all the media, political, and religious leaders with this end in view, and when he started World War II by invading Poland the Germans were convinced that they were merely defending their honor. Hitler lied to them and told them that Poland had committed the first act of aggression. If the general public had known the truth World War II would have never been because public opinion would not have allowed it.
The war in the Falklands between Britain and Argentina illustrates the power of indoctrination in molding public opinion, but more importantly, the power of public opinion over a dictatorship.
On the Argentina side, public opinion was directed in favor of repossessing the Falklands through teaching the people from their first history classes in school that the islands were a part of Argentina, and that Britain had an unlawful possession of them. Thus when the military dictator, Leopold Galtieri, ordered the invasion of the Falklands the people supported the idea of getting back that which they thought was stolen from them. Public opinion was roused further by glorious promises of victory.
After the war began the dictatorship saw that they must keep public opinion on their side so they told many lies to the people through their controlled media. If Britain would shoot down six planes they would say they lost one and if Argentina would sink one British ship they would report three. If they had to retreat because of superior British forces the dictatorship would tell the people they were consolidating forces to strike a master blow. The people were greatly deceived and supported the war up to the last moment.
Finally, the moment of truth came. The British gained the victory and it became clear as crystal to the people that they had been deceived and they felt like fools. Public opinion rose with one voice against Galtieri, a totalitarian dictator, and he was out of office in several days.
The common people are the masters of the world. History records that they are; presidents and priests obey them, and kings and dictators fear them. If the common people can bask in the light of truth there would always be progress toward peace. If the Argentines were taught the history of the Falklands in their true perspective they would not have made the first aggressive act. They may then look upon the Falklands in a similar light as the French look upon Louisiana that Napoleon illegally sold to America, or as Mexico does Texas which was lost to the U.S.
If the people are presented the truth in a way that they can understand they will generally make the right decision, and that decision, be it good or evil, is all powerful. All repressive governments could be overthrown in a day if the people so willed it. The common man must awake to the power he has so he can use it intelligently.
Another good example of this power was the resignation of Richard Nixon. He was a man with perhaps as great of an attachment to leadership and power as can be found; yet he stepped down. Why? Not because he felt guilty over Watergate, not because he was impeached, but because public opinion demanded it. He would have faced a life in chains or even risked his life to retain control if the public had supported him, but they did not. His Master spoke and he obeyed.
On the other hand, President Clinton faced a similar ordeal and was smart enough to focus all of his efforts, not on defending himself, but on manipulating public opinion in his favor. It was only because a high percentage of the public supported him that allowed him to remain in office.
Then when public opinion was directed against Ken Starr, even though he was no worse than most other prosecutors, his power to even use the law against Clinton was neutralized.
If public opinion can strip proud men of their power, and control the rise and fall of world leaders, could it not accomplish the simpler feat of influencing presidents and leaders to endorse the Declaration of Peace and Goodwill? After all, such endorsement may place them in the honor roles of history. They should be happy to follow their Master (the people) on this important item.
The one per cent property tax initiative that started in California some years ago is a good example of the constructive power of public opinion. Few of the leaders or candidates liked the idea and frowned upon it, but their Master, the people, thought otherwise and supported it.
Leaders and candidates then switched positions and decided it was good after all, and it became the law of the state because the people were enlightened and educated on the subject and THEY WILLED IT TO BE AND IT WAS SO.
Even so must the peace loving people of the entire planet combine their energies to put THE DECLARATION OF PEACE AND GOODWILL in effect throughout the length and width of the Earth. Let our minds be filled with the all-consuming thought. “It can be done … It must be done … It will be done.”
HOW TO AROUSE PUBLIC OPINION
This may sound well and good to a potential Peacemaker, but he may wonder how it is that we are to arouse public opinion for the cause of peace. After all, it has never been done before on a practical level.
This is a reasonable question for we must admit that public opinion will not establish peace without some direction, for without intelligent direction we have the blind leading the blind
The first and most important step is that a definite Plan with a plausible solution be developed to present to the public. Without a definite Plan all the marching and demonstrations in the world will have little effect, for the leaders of the nations (as thoughtless as they seem at times) are intelligent enough not to pursue blind action and merely hope for the best. They also need an intelligent Plan to work with.
Such a Plan has been written – THE DECLARATION OF PEACE AND GOODWILL – and is included in this treatise for consideration.
The second stage in the implementation of the Plan is to place it before the most powerful force in the world – the people. One may think it should be first given to the heads of state but if that was all we did and let it go at that it would die on the vine. The leaders of the world (most of them) would not want to present it unless they can receive the glory of it being their plan, and if they did this their political opponents would not support them for it would make the opposing party look too good.
Nevertheless, world leaders should be presented the plan along with everyone else and endorsements on both sides of the political spectrum should be sought.
It is, however, of prime importance to present it to the people and rouse public opinion in its favor. Then when the leaders see that their Master – the people – want it, they will have to obey.
The first step in gaining the interest of the people will be to distribute this writing as far and as wide as possible. For those groups who express interest, Project Peace and Goodwill, after it is an established organization, will provide speakers. When a group of people in a certain locality show interest, they can hold meetings and study different aspects of the Plan. The groups interested can then hold fund raising drives and door-to-door campaigns to enlighten the people and get their written endorsement of the Plan. At least twenty million signatures could be acquired in the United States alone.
After the public learns about the Plan and its feasibility, and some belief in its implementation is instilled in the public consciousness, Step Three will be initiated. The people who are the masters of their fate will use their influence to get it endorsed by their City, State and finally the Federal government. They will influence their leaders with e-mails, phone calls, letters, personal contact, and the power of their vote. When the leaders see this is what the people want, then they will give it to them.
The people must merely show their leaders with one voice that they want the Plan implemented. It is as simple as that.
Project Peace and Goodwill will do what they can to coordinate the efforts of the people so they will be effectively heard. They will also use funds available for a media blitz to enlighten all people of the Plan and generate public support. Television, newspapers, radio, brochures, bumper stickers etc will all be used. This, of course, will take a good deal of money, but it can be raised. This is the type of project people will be willing to donate to as long as they know how their money is being spent. It will take millions, perhaps billions to consummate this effort, but when the army of volunteers surfaces, the needed amount will become available.
Copyright 1982 by J J Dewey
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