Cliche of Logic

The theme of Expo 2015 is "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life," and is focused on sustainable food production. But this latest iteration of the world fair has come under fire from critics, including Pope Francis, for what many call a wasteful, business-driven agenda.

Q. What do you wish for?

A. To keep everything that I have...

One million Brazilians took to the streets last night. http://huff.to/19afp7Z (Photo by TASSO MARCELO/AFP/Getty Images)

“There are too many things in the world which divide people, such as religion, politics, history, and nationalism. If culture is capable of anything, then it is finding that which unites us all. And there are so many things which unite people. It doesn’t matter who you are or who I am, if your tooth aches or mine, it’s still the same pain. Feelings are what link people together, because the word `love’ has the same meaning for everybody. Or `fear’, or `suffering’. We all fear the same way and the same things. And we all love in the same way. That’s why I tell about these things, because in all other things I immediately find division.”

In order for us human beings to commit ourselves personally to the inhumanity of war, we find it necessary first to dehumanize our opponents, which is in itself a violation of the beliefs of all religions. Once we characterize our adversaries as beyond the scope of God's mercy and grace, their lives lose all value. We deny personal responsibility when we plant landmines and, days or years later, a stranger to us — often a child – is crippled or killed. From a great distance, we launch bombs or missiles with almost total impunity, and never want to know the number or identity of the victims.

War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each others children.