We often find regrettable evidence of the reality that it is part of human nature to cling to old disproved ideas beyond much evidence that disproves them.
If it is comforting to hold harmless beliefs and no one is hurt, we do not have to discard them.
But there comes a time, and unfortunately, sometimes very late, when old beliefs, stubbornly maintained, can do much harm.
For example, the old South still maintains that the Civil War was fought for states’ rights.
A new book, recently published, provides new evidence of the unspeakable cruelties inflicted on slaves and the widespread practices in the New World long after Great Britain had abolished slavery that belies the notion that slaves were treated with kindness and protection.
The slave trade was too profitable to be ended. The economies of the South and in other countries in the New World were dependent on using slaves that worked in industries under the most merciless conditions.
Death rates were horrendous, and human beings were expendable.
Today, ironically, there are still those who believe that sending ground troops into endless wars, some later proven to be for the control of oil or other natural resources, are our only recourse.
Too lightly, many would risk war by denying several nations the possible strategy of an agreement with Iran to limit nuclear proliferation.
They still feel that our great nation should go it alone, refusing to try a bloodless course.
They persist in the notion that the U.S. could save the world by pursuing wars that killed our most precious resource, our young men. The rampant amnesia in our supposed leaders has to be cured in favor of negotiation.
Prolonged discussion kills no one.
Lessons in history should be repeated to exhaustion if necessary.
They are boring, but safer than battles and the ruination of national economies.
Perhaps our entertainment industry can be persuaded to compose ditties that list our mistakes in easily sung parodies about Vietnam and Iraq.
Maybe advertisers would inject 10 second slogans touting peace among the ads for junk food.
We need to find more comedians, who instead of unprintable words, will make war a dirty word.
Esther Confino
New Hyde Park
