THE VOICE OF FREE EUROPE: I wasn’t at all surprised to hear this fact. Since 1945, there has been only one year when Britain wasn’t involved in a conflict somewhere.

I recall a palace journalist describing Britain as a peace-loving nation. I am surprised he managed to keep a straight face.

Perhaps I read it wrong. He might have meant Britain wants a piece of this and a piece of that wherever it can find it.

It is no use changing your residencia to Spanish nationality. The Spaniards have an even worse record of pillage and plunder. According to Professor Quincy Wright, from 1480 to 1940, European nations were involved in 278 wars.

THE PIT BULL TERRIERS OF EUROPE

Engaged in 28 percent of them England leads the pack. France (26%) wasn’t far behind and Spain (23%) and Russia (22%) were hanging on to the tails of soldiers’ tunics.

The distinguished Russian-American sociologist, Pitirim Sorokin, provides insights into Spain’s history. He reveals that from the 12^th century to 1925, Spain spent 67% of that time at war.

Poland came second at 58% with England at 56%. These were followed in descending order by France, Russia, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany.

THE GREATEST ROBBERS AND MARAUDERS

Given Britain’s record since 1945, it has probably taken the podium of incivility awards. These conflicts include India, Palestine, Malaya, Korea, the Suez Canal Zone, and Kenya.

Cyprus, Suez 1956, Borneo, Vietnam, Aden, Radfan, Oman, Dhofar, Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, and Oman. Also, the Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. You may know of more.

Each conflict marches to the same old tune: we always do it for the betterment of the natives. It is just coincidental that whilst freeing others from despotism we stumble upon mineral deposits and other assets.

Henry Labouchere was a 19th-century English Liberal MP. He was also an outspoken journalist. Labouchere put it succinctly: “We are, without exception, the greatest robbers. We are the marauders that ever existed on the face of the globe.

“We are worse than other countries because we are hypocrites. We plunder and always pretend to do so for other peoples’ good.”

THE SCREAMING AND LIES AND THE HATRED

George Orwell discusses another feature of war. He states that ‘all the war propaganda comes from people who are not fighting.’ All the screaming, lies, and hatred also originate from them.’

I suppose one has to be the eternal optimist to believe in change. This includes believing that the world will peacefully co-exist in a bank-free barter co-operative. It’s the idea that swords will be turned into ploughshares.

As someone said, “It will be a great day when education gets all the money it wants. The Air Force will have to hold a bake sale to buy bombers.”

Can we stop war? Of course, we can. Wars cannot be fought without the manufacture of weapons, uniforms and war apparatus that underpin them.

Those who despise murder and theft should refuse to work in armaments factories. They must also refuse to build military installations.

Additionally, they must refuse to make uniforms. They must also refuse to create the spoils of war. The corpse of conflict will then be placed in the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Hopefully, it will never raise its coffin lid.

As Helen Keller said, “Strike against preparedness that means death and misery to millions of human beings. Be not dumb, obedient slaves in an army of destruction. Be heroes in an army of construction.”

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