How Civilized Are We?

After reading Chapters 9, 11, and 12, I cannot help but think that we, as people, have become extremely violent toward one another as we have supposedly become “more civilized.” Even though I have lived through a civil war and understand why my countrymen fought against each other to overthrow a dictator, I cannot ever support the ideas behind wars and most certainly do not support the killing of innocent people. Muhammad, for example, claimed that God spoke to him over a period of 22 years. He fought many wars and was not only a religious figure, but he was also a military leader who would harshly suppress, exile, enslave, or even kill those who opposed him. We then have Chinggis Khan, who is believed to have been an excellent military leader. But from my point of view, he was a despicable human being who is said to have used a form of psychological warfare. “Whoever submits shall be spared, but those who resist, they shall be destroyed with their wives, children and dependents … so that the others who hear and see should fear and not act the same.” (Strayer & Nelson, 471) These are just two examples of two human beings who would not think twice about taking a life if that life did not serve their political or religious agenda. There were other rulers, kings, and emperors before and after Muhammad and Chinggis Khan who have used violence in order to gain power. Perhaps the civilization we are forming now could use a “time-out,” take a deep/closer look at the age of agriculture, and in some wishful thinking way go back in time to avoid such violence. If we all came from one place, aren’t we killing our own family members?