Thanks to those who work for peaceful democracy

Mr Ken Davy made the point that war is a barbarity (PN, 2 May 2016, Forum) but he doesn't explore man's savagery and violent nature.

High energy, charismatic leaders lusting for power, exploit this part of human nature.

Though most generals believe war is a veritable hell and very wasteful, others, such as General Patton, confess: "God help me George, I love it".

The great peace makers of history and of today try to stem the hate and fanaticism that leads to war.

Sometimes they are successful. For example, the Pope in Italy and a Nun in Paris who both succeeded in persuading respective Huns and Goths to retire from their cities.

However it's a very uneven struggle between peace and ambition and the love of power.

One is thankful for those many people that have worked and struggled to develop our peaceful and beneficial democracy.

Email, 7 May 2016

Keith Whitfield, Woy Woy