Anyway, here is a little piece I sent off to some mags today, so I hope that's enough to make U forgive me... enjoy or just skip, and if the above apology is not directed to you, well, enjoy or just skip!

Several Gods make several priests. Several Truths make strife.

Uniting against one common enemy is unity by default. Uniting for the good of all is unity in the name of all. There are many reasons why the race is dis-united: Fear, lack of communication and doubts regarding individual survival are the main ones. It is certain that being threatened, one reverts to a “survival mode"; the well being of the group ceases to be a primary concern and the individual “fends for itself". In the least extreme cases the immediate family and close friends’ well being remains a priority but when the fear element reaches critical level, the prospect of death, extreme loss or being outcast can provoke a predator-like behavior even in the most civilized. Finding the causes of this issue will not solve it. A cure?
What about self-examination? “Man know thyself and you will know the stars and the Universe".
Yes, one individual may achieve world peace single-handedly so long as he/she looks deep enough within him/herself. A large group raising its awareness would have a larger impact and, obviously a general accessing of a higher consciousness would have an immediate one.
Are there several Truths, several sides to every story? Is there one unique Truth, high above our current level of understanding?
The core idea is the same: Battling for one’s truth to be accepted creates strife for the simple reason that your neighbor’s own truth is almost certainly at odds with yours, at whichever degree. One may bow to the generally accepted view but chances are he/she will not wholeheartedly agree with it. Does that mean that unity starts with individuality? Perhaps, so long as individual needs (and views) are recognized as essential to the well being of the whole. A society where all would govern is somehow a utopia. Some have tried and although it may be effective on a small scale, it is unlikely to be applicable in today’s world. The acknowledgement of this, even if it is only “in theory" is however an important step towards achieving world peace. You could always argue that this is only my truth and therefore it may not be valid for you [smile].
Battling for one’s God to be worshipped is fastidious. Worshipping one’s God and observing Its teachings may help the spreading of faith in a more peaceful manner. If both you and your neighbors agree with this chances are you will never argue on religious matters again. You two may even be able to share aspects of your own religion and embrace part of each other’s faith gracefully and…with relief. Human beings can accept any view if they choose to do so themselves. As odd as it seems a point of view will almost certainly be rejected if it is being forced upon another. If the same point of view is suggested accompanied with a large smile and a bunch of wild flowers it will likely be considered if not accepted. If the individual reaches the still same point of view through a “divine revelation" or at the end of a sublime meditation it will almost certainly be accepted [smile]
Preachers hold a great weight even in today’s “atheist" and “non-religious" circles. The preacher is the one who is entrusted in revealing what the common man is not able to see. This obviously applies to all those who possess arcane knowledge of a subject, whether purely religious, political, social, or scientific the role is indeed much the same regardless of the particular field involved. Since all humans do not have the time to become experts in every domain, the individuals perceived as experts have the role of distilling their knowledge to all. This creates a great power as well as an even greater responsibility. The role of preachers, experts and passers of Knowledge make each of their word a potential belief, each of their theory a potential belief system, each doubt a potential cause for strife, if not for themselves at least for some of the believers who have embraced their views. The value of discrimination is here highlighted. Whence all views may represent truths, they may not. Critical thinking is not the mark of the revolutionaries, troublemakers or individualists. It is a trait by which those who hear may choose to listen further, accept or reject. It is the essence of progress, of elaborating and improving on whatever is already here. Today’s world is not a den of iniquity; it is not Heaven on Earth either. It is what I, you and we make it, for better, for worse, here, now and ever after.