WEALTH = PEACE??

I would like to begin by stating that pursuing wealth does not, of course, make you peaceful. There are numerous examples to disprove this theory. For one, let's look at ourselves, the United States. The idea that money can buy peace is one that is misunderstood in most of the world. The U.S. pursues wealth and has pursued wealth in order to be at the economic level that we are. We also give money, sometimes large amounts, to countries that have not acquired wealth and to countries that are not peaceful(for whatever reason), in the hopes of creating peace through money. This is a false hope though, because eventually, the country needs more resources and structure and the fighting continues.


Peace is not a product of wealth. The United States, with an incredibly high GDP, is still funding a war in Iraq as well as 'lending a hand' in many other countries. Any country, no matter whether it is wealthy or not, will pursue ANYTHING for its own good rather than maintain a peaceful status with other sovereignties. As the United States has grown in power and wealth, it has more problems keeping peace because we fear what will happen to the 'superpower.' Attacks such as September 11, show that are goal is not to pursue peace, but to maintain our own high status in the world, and that has nothing to do with peace. I do not think that there is any correlation between the pursuit of wealth and whether you are more peaceful.

Oil is an essential export from many Arab countries, a place where the United States focuses much attention. Because of this, we are involved in the business of these countries, and need to maintain relations to ensure that we receive oil. As long as we can purchase oil, we will invade other countries and do anything possible to 'control' the trade and ensure that we will not lose.

In order to be at all peaceful, you must be a country somewhere in the middle of the economic scale, or be dependent on another country. This is not always true, but countries that do not have economic resources, tend to be out of the worldly picture and wars. Any country that is independent and gaining wealth is not out to create peace, they are out to benefit for their country and that country alone.