The “more” of what is needed to bring a nation and society out of a constant state of war, and to the threshold of social stability and eventually social sustainability is something that napalm, Tomahawk missiles, 5.56 mm or 7.62 mm ammunition, or any other articles of warfare never offer.  The “more” that is needed comes in a form that is so recognizable when we hear and see news reports about Navy Seals, Army Rangers, the Marines and attack helicopter and fighter pilots – DISCIPLINE!!!  For those in the armed services, discipline is something that is given and earned, ingrained and is imperishable when it is most needed.

But what is called for to bring a whole nation and its societies into a social, political and economic/financial state of stability is even more difficult to acquire — this is self-discipline that one chooses to adopt without training, without coercion and without a second thought of compromise.  Of all the traits that produces great history, it is self-discipline, discipline that is accepted by the individual, engrained by the individual and steadfastly held in mind by the individual.  And when that is duplicated by hundreds of thousands of people, great things do occur.  

We usually associate “great things” in history as those which create great sacrifices of the lives of individuals.  Those are obvious.  What is not so obvious are the sacrifices that are given when situations require perseverance to pursue and fulfill goals that give opportunity and greater fulfillment and quality of life for future generations. 
 
I’ve used Edmund Burke’s quote at least twice in the last 99 Posts — “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing.”  What causes people to do nothing even when they see and know what is wrong is occurring on their watch, when they know what is right?  Call it moral cowardice or spineless character a lack of self-discipline to “Do what is right” has always allowed the evil in the world to cause harm to others.  

This lack of character and self-discipline to do the right thing comes from an innate selfishness and care-less arrogance that may not emanate from a condescending attitude of others, but simply comes from a self-centeredness that sees no value in supporting those who live after them, even their own children.  In my 70 years, I’ve seen this all too often, and I find it disgusting and repugnant.  In a society that is contemplating moving toward social stability, we must ask, “What is right?” and then pour some concrete into our backbones to gird our self-discipline to act accordingly.