by T. M. Beeker

Created on: January 30, 2009

How quaint the notion that peace in the Middle East is somehow a different creature from the rest of the world. Why do we focus on that region's violence when what happens there is common the world over. The obstacles to peace the world over are as old as human nature. Destruction and violence being far more attractive and profitable than building or peace. To single out this region as somehow peculiar is a product of corporate for-profit 'news' organizations that run flavor of the month hot spots by us to catch attention long enough for us to sit through commercials. Think about the common themes for why there is no peace in the Middle East.

The nation of Israel is a thorn in the side of nations surrounding it. The Muslim nations have internal strife thanks to tribal, religious, and economic differences. Because of a valued resource other nations use economic pressure and military force to strive for peace. Are these situations unique?

The region formerly known as Yugoslavia should strike a chord. There new fledgling nations are vying for sovereignty (like Israel). Conflicts between Muslim nations and Christian nations (Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) are mixed in with tribal conflicts (Serb, Croat, Kosovar, Albanian, and others). Such conflicts did and could again upset the delicate economic balance of the EU. This reached a boiling point in the middle to late 90s. So how was peace achieved in that region? Same as in Iraq. The leader who was a danger to neighbors and peace was removed. Has there been a happy ending? Nope, there are still skirmishes and turf wars but, not enough to draw the attention of media nodes. Rest assured when the dust settles from a withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan the troubles in Latin America, Africa, and Asia will make the news.

Peace is an interesting term to choose. Would we say that the United States is at peace? Why because our violence is caused by criminals and not uniformed invaders? I learned a very hard lesson in the Marines, dead is dead. It does not matter if you stop a bullet on the streets of your hometown or in a jungle. So to look at what happens in the Middle East and deem it an obstacle to peace is a bit silly. Suicide bomber in Baghdad and a drive-by in L.A. both add up to the same thing. Lots of violence and very little peace.

So what are these obstacles? Same thing they have been for centuries since the first guy picked up a rock. Limited resources and space breeding competition among groups with unlimited wants, needs, and feelings. Religion is always a touchy issue. It is responsible for more bloodshed over the course of history than politics and economics combined. See when you shake another's faith or step on it, the violence becomes not just a personal matter but a cultural one. It is sad and interesting that every major organized faith preaches love and peace but has been the source of bloody war. Culture which expands beyond religious belief is another major obstacle to peace anywhere in the world.

"This is MY land. Nope, MY people were here first. Sorry you are both wrong MY tribe settled here before recorded time." So is this a conversation between a Jew and an Arab, Native American and a European, Catholic Irishman and a Protestant Irishman, Afrikaaner and a Zulu? That is the reason why I think we miss the idea when we pick and choose a region or single group to wonder why violence exists instead of peace.

The obstacles to peace are there all over our planet. The names, cultures, and places may be different but that is only window dressing for the source of the problem; US.

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