About Peace, Love & Understanding

The highest result of education is tolerance. Long ago men fought and died for their faith; but it took ages to teach them the other kind of courage, — the courage to recognize the faiths of their brethren and their rights of conscience. Tolerance is the first principle of community; it is the spirit which conserves the best that all men think.
       – Helen Keller, Optimism

(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding

As should be evident, I — like everyone else — am in large part a product of my time. And part of my time was the anthem “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” written by Nick Lowe and made famous in 1978 by Elvis Costello and The Attractions (as this vintage music video attests Smile ).

The song came back to me several years ago when I was talking to someone about my Abrahamic scriptures courses and the role that understanding both “Other” and “Self” can play in promoting peaceful coexistence— a theme that turns out to run throughout much of my work.

Feel free to sing along …

(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding

As i walk through
This wicked world
Searchin’ for light in the darkness of insanity.

I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time i feel like this inside,
There’s one thing i wanna know:
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?

And as i walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

’cause each time i feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?

So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

’cause each time i feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?

‘Nuff said.