When I was young, I fancied myself a hippie. I also considered myself an
artist. I was a musician and a
painter.
What I bought into wasn’t the psychedelic drug culture that grew up
around the hippie movement, but the “flower power” philosophy on which that
movement was based, and which created a veritable cultural revolution that
caught on around the world. It was a philosophy that promoted everything that should be the accepted norm in the
world—peace, harmony, empathy, cooperation. Above all, love.
The hippies were seen by the establishment as “crazy kids”. But the
learning moment that the hippie movement offered to the world came through its
opening of minds of all ages not only to the possibility, but also to the appropriateness
of its philosophy of love and kindness. In that context, it wasn’t the hippies
who were “crazy”, but the establishment, the sick societies that sold war,
division, racism, repression and violence as the norm and even as something
desirable, while trying to dismiss love and understanding as “naïve” and a
threat to the world order. An order that divided the world into North and South
(“haves” and “have-nots”) and, more importantly, into East and West—“friends”
and “enemies”.
I came to believe in the Age of Aquarius, in the coming of a new era of
peace, harmony and understanding, of brotherly and sisterly love, of world
society living in a state of empathy and cooperation, of swords being beaten
into ploughshares, of people all pitching in and saving the world together. And
if the spiritual leaders and congregations of all of the major religions truly
believed what they were preaching and accepting as their faith, they should
have believed in this vision as well, since what the hippies were promoting
was, pure and simple, adherence to The Golden Rule. And that rule, in different
words but with the exact same meaning, forms an integral part of the sacred
texts of every major spiritual movement, from Judaism to Islam, from Buddhism
to Hinduism and from Catholicism to Protestantism.
For a time, it looked like we were on our way. The dream of the United
Nations became a reality and was in its adolescence at the same time I was. The
European Union seemed to ensure that the multiple nations of Europe would never
again be at the center of a global conflict. The Berlin Wall fell and with it,
the Soviet Union, with Russia under Gorbachev appearing to be headed for a
rapprochement with the Western world. China too opened its economy, and with
it, its mind to the possibility of a peaceful and productive relationship with
the rest of the planet.
The last decade, however, has been disappointing with the noteworthy decline
of democracy, the proliferation of proxy wars, the refueling of animosity
between the Russian Federation and the West, the sparking of a trade war
between the US and China with a corresponding military buildup by China’s
government, the rise of a brand of neo-fascist populism in frighteningly unexpected
places, the undermining of the mission of the UN, the weakening of the NATO
alliance, and incipient instability within the EU.
Meanwhile, our planet is faced with an environmental crisis of
terrifying proportions and not nearly enough is being done to create the world
peace and consensus necessary to confront climate change, the common enemy of
every living being on earth.
There are, however, reasons for hope. Thanks to the social media, young
people are stating and creating their own views and plans for the future. And
perhaps what seems like the chaos that is brewing at present is merely the
death rattle of a boomer generation that has done far too little to ensure the
future of our children and their children, and all future generations beyond. I
hope for and foresee a new era, much like the one that sparked a cultural
revolution during my own youth, and which is apt to rise out of the current
slide back into our destructive old ways.
This was why I set out a decade ago on a journey to try, in my own
humble way, to make a contribution to peace and cooperation. I saw it as a
cultural legacy to my sons, something I could give them beyond merely sharing
my business acumen with them. That was how the idea to write a book took shape.
Out of that first seed of an idea came two books: Short History of World Religions and War — A Crime Against Humanity. And as the offspring of these books
would come this blog and a series of YouTube videos. I could never have guessed
that this project would also take me on a series of speaking engagements that
would lead me, among other venues, to the Vatican and to Harvard, or that it
would prompt a series of radio and TV interviews with people who found the
concepts included in my book a fresh vision of the road to peace.
I am truly grateful for and have been humbled by this extraordinary
experience. But the time has come, for strictly personal reasons, for me to
pass on the continuation of this journey to my children’s generation. They will
be the ones living in the world to come, and the ones who will ultimately be
responsible for turning around many of the negative trends that my generation
has, unfortunately, bequeathed them.
This will be my final blog, though I will continue to maintain the
contacts made over the course of this decade-long project through my personal
web page at www.robertovivo.com.
But before I go, I would like to say thanks to all of you who have read
these blog entries since I began turning them out, and to those who have
followed me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well. I also want to give
special thanks to individuals who have accompanied me in this endeavor over the
years. My deepest thanks, respect and appreciation go to the following people:
Juan Luis Iramain, Francisco Ochoa, Ricardo Elía and Aníbal Díaz
Gallinal, who worked with me in the early stages on this project. Each of them
contributed his invaluable time, critical thought and, above all, passion for
the subjects treated. With them I share the satisfaction of having given birth
to a project that I hope will not to end here but will flourish through others
in future.
Former President of Uruguay Julio María Sanguinetti, for whom I have the
utmost respect and friendship and who not only spoke at the launch event for War — A Crime Against Humanity, but who
has also offered me his advice throughout the writing of that book and beyond.
Renowned Argentine jurist Luis Moreno Ocampo. As former Chief Prosecutor
for the International Criminal Court in The Hague, he not only introduced me to
the court as such but also helped me understand its most intimate inner
workings and its potential importance as a future preeminent enforcer of
worldwide peace, justice and human rights.
Bestselling American authors and speakers Dr. William Ury and Prof. John
Naisbitt, for their comments and encouragement.
Former Nuremberg Prosecutor Ben Ferencz for his friendship, guidance and
inspiration.
Dr. Eduardo Luis Feher, writer, poet, professor and former President of
the Mexican Academy of Literature, for his kind words, at the launching of War — A Crime Against Humanity in
Mexico, regarding the book, its subject matter and its literary quality.
Juan Pablo Nicolini, Ernesto Schargrodsky, Horacio Spector and Fernando
Rocchi of the Torcuato Di Tella University and Roberto Bosca of the Universidad Austral, all of Buenos
Aires, and Dr. Felipe Maíllo Salgado of the University of Salamanca in Spain
for their sage advice.
Prof. Rafael Ansón Oliart of the Camilo José Cela University’s Cátedra Federico Mayor de Cultura de Paz
in Madrid, and Prof. Noah Weisbord of the Florida International University
School of Law for counseling me on specific topics regarding peace.
Alicia Padilla, who served as a guide through the (for me) uncharted waters
of the publishing world.
Andrés Mego, of Hojas del Sur SRL, publisher and promoter of War — A Crime Against Humanity.
My personal assistants Viviana Natalucci and Gloria González who have
generously given of their time and know-how.
Finally, Dan Newland, who originally came to this project as the
English-language translator for Short
History of World Religions, but who, as a veteran journalist, writer and
researcher in his own right, became so engrossed in the subject of war, peace
and their intimate connection with politics and religion, that he permanently
joined my team and became my chief collaborator in the research and writing
carried out over the course of this project. Dan has continued to work closely
with me up to the present day, maintaining his full-time post as researcher,
editor, speech-writer and Spanish-English translator for all of these years.
My deepest gratitude and respect to
everyone whose lives and beliefs I have touched, and who have touched mine.
May the year ahead be one of peace, harmony, generosity, empathy,
cooperation and, above all, love.
Happy New Year! And, hasta siempre.
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