Captain Paul Chappell is a former US army serviceman who in lack of a better word, floored me today. His lecture was on "World Peace" very cliche right? not the way he presents it. He talked about whether or not world peace is possible in this world of ours and how wars are basically never a positive factor in the search for it. He talked about killing and violence is not a natural and that the government and military desensitize and dehumanize people to get them to partake. Wars use moral, psychological and mechanical distancing as a way for soldiers to be able to take things easier. He says wars are brought about by fear and the only thing that is bigger than the flight response to attack is the natural reaction of a person to protect and risk their lives for their loved ones. This part of his speech brought out the biggest reaction from me, i started silently crying. It made me think about how i would do just about anything to protect the people i love from pain and trouble and how helpless i am in my current situation. my mom has breast cancer, and i hate how helpless i am. shes sick and is going to go through tons for pain and as much as i want to use my fight response on her, its not like most other things. I can't give her my kidney and make it better or tell off a bully thats bugging her, i just have to be there for her. more than ever, more than i thought i ever could. Perspective is hard when you feel do helpless, but in many ways I believe Captain Chappell helped me gain it without even trying.
Chappell went on further and talked about peaceful leaders like MLKJ and Ghandi and how powerful they became through non-violence. He even showed perspective on dictators who are so obviously paranoid and the only thing they think will successfully assert their power is through power. Chappell self described himself as an anti-war, pro-military individual, and I don't think I've ever met someone who I believed more. He is literally the most rational and relatible speakers I have ever had the privilege of listening to. For someone of just 30 years of age i believe he could change the world in the most literal and useful sense of the phrase. Considering I heard him speak less than an hour ago I have yet to read his books, The End of War: How Waging Peace can save Humanity, Our Planet and Our Future and Will War Ever End?: A Soldier’s Vision of Peace for the 21st Century but im confident that by suggesting it, i and you will not be disappointed.
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