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Introduction
When, after much deliberation, I came to the conclusion to write to former friends and colleagues and ask them to resume personal relations and join forces in view of the world situation, my wife told me the fable of Aesop and the parable of the seven sticks. She suggested that I write an article instead of the letter because alumni do not feel personally attacked by it.
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It is my concern to work together with all constructive “forces” for the benefit of fellow human beings, because we citizens can change the world through this. After all, we owe the next generation a future worth living.
An excerpt from Rosalie Bertell’s book “Planet Earth” in “Global Research” of 1 April confirmed my concern.
Aesop’s parable of the seven sticks
The fables of the ancient Greek poet Aesop (6th century BC) are parables of human weaknesses in short stories. They judge and unmask, but do not condemn anyone. This is also the case with his parable of the seven pillars:
A father had seven sons who often disagreed with each other, so that they even missed their work because of the quarrelling. Therefore, one day the old father had the seven sons come together, put before them seven sticks tied tightly together and said, “To the one of you who breaks this bundle of sticks in two, I will pay a hundred large thalers.” One by one they exerted all their strength. After a long futile effort, each said, “It is not possible at all.”
“Yes, it is,” replied the father, “nothing is easier.”
He untied the bundle and with little effort broke one stick after another.
Thereupon he said to his sons:
“As it is with these sticks, so it is with you. As long as you stand firm together, you will endure and no one will be able to overpower you. But if the bond of concord that is to bind you together is dissolved, you will be like the staves that lie broken here on the ground.” (1)
Dr Rosalie Bertell: “Zero tolerance for the destructive power of war”.
In her book “Planet Earth. The Latest Weapon of War”, US scientist Rosalie Bertell (1929-2012) confirmed my concern:
“The first step to change is the conviction that change is necessary…. Those working for peace, economic justice, social justice and environmental integrity all need to stay connected. In such a grandiose project, ‘staying connected’ never means total agreement in everything, but a constant cycle of communication, action, feedback and evaluation. Honest dialogue about successes and failures protects against major mistakes in alternative policy development…” (2)
Dear friends and colleagues, valued fellow citizens, let us unite!
I believe that the world is in a very alarming state and society is making people sick. We citizens will only be able to change this situation if we unite and help each other (Kropotkin) (3). Together we have a very great potential to do this – especially if we put the science of psychology to work.
If even long-enemy states can unite more closely and resume (diplomatic) relations, why shouldn’t former friends and colleagues, us citizens, be able to do the same? But in this case, we also have to give up long-held animosities (hostile attitudes against someone) and move towards each other. There is no longer any room for the dictum “competition is good for business”. The omnipresent social corruption is increasingly spreading to personal friendships and colleges.
And the European states – above all Germany – are increasingly losing their sovereignty and are only vassals of the “only world power”, the USA. For example, Finland will soon belong to NATO. The world-famous Russian city of St. Petersburg (Leningrad until 1991) with its millions of inhabitants is not far from the future Finnish NATO border. I am thinking of the “Leningrad Blockade” (“blokada Leningrada”), the 28-month siege of the city by the German army in the early 1940s.
At that time, about 1.1 million civilians lost their lives because of the blockade. About 90 per cent of these victims starved to death. People focused all their energy on the search for food. Everything of organic origin was eaten, such as glue, grease and wallpaper paste. Leather goods were boiled and in November 1941 there were no cats or dogs, rats or crows in Leningrad (4).
In the winter of 1941 / 1942, people lost up to 45 percent of their body weight. As a result, bodies began to break down muscle tissue and the heart and liver shrank. Dystrophy (malnutrition) became the main cause of death. Mass deaths began (5).
Who knows this? The young generation, at any rate, does not. Therefore, there must be no new war crimes against Russia. The Germans owe this to past and future generations.
So, what are we waiting for?
Let’s get together and educate our fellow human beings about the science of psychology, because the world will not progress without psychology.
Let us help spouses, both men and women, to unite in peace and friendship so that they can participate in changing the world and raise their young brood wisely.
Together we citizens are strong.
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Dr. Rudolf Lothar Hänsel is a school rector, educational scientist and qualified psychologist. After his university studies he became an academic teacher in adult education. As a retiree he worked as a psychotherapist in his own practice. In his books and professional articles, he calls for a conscious ethical-moral education in values as well as an education for public spirit and peace. In 2021, he was awarded the Republic Prize “Captain Misa Anastasijevic” by the Universities of Belgrade and Novi Sad for services to Serbia.
Notes
(1) https://www.ingeb.org/Lieder/einvater.html
(2) https://www.globalresearch.ca/dr-rosalie-bertell-zero-tolerance-destructive-power-war/5814282
(3) https://www.globalresearch.ca/society-makes-people-sick/5810986
(4) https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leningrader_Blockade
(5) op. cit.
Featured image is from The Free Farm
