EUROPE AND ISLAM
Imagine that countless numbers of people die during the pandemic. Imagine that, in Africa, where the population is already weakened by the aids epidemic, in the Middle East and in densely populated parts of South-East Asia, only a fraction of the population would survive.
There is no time for sorrow and mourning, The only preoccupation of the citizens is to survive. World economy stands still. Nobody is taking seriously national and international organizations. Politicians, in so far they are still occupying their positions, keep silent. Mass media have no audience. Internet traffic is reduced. All human activities are concentrated on what is happening in one’s own surroundings.
In these circumstances a totally unexpected movement stands up. Everywhere in the world communes arise spontaneously. In every area people are assembling in order to organize food production and distribution. Between communes trade by barter is possible insofar it is necessary and useful. Health care and education will be reorganized according to local needs and initiatives of the commune. All people can contributed to the welfare of the commune. There are no unemployed people, because all men and women are carried by the general enthusiasm to build the commune. In each commune a salutary climate of solidarity exist. Crime rates are reduced to zero. Drug addiction and hanging around idly have disappeared. Self-sufficiency in each region will be achieved thanks to the contribution of each member of the commune according to her or his own talents and needs. There is no retirement age. Old people has the right to decide on their own to what degree they will take part in the activities of the commune.
The environment fares well. No airplanes pollute the atmosphere. Car traffic is reduced to a strict minimum. Industrial activities stand almost still. Economic activities are limited to food production and distribution in each commune. Only vital goods are produced, but this production is based on materials which are available in the region. People do not travel anymore, Leisure time is spend together in the commune. People are interested in the local history and culture. Volunteers are repairing old landscapes. Sporting events are organized on a local scale or between communes nearby. The Olympic Games or other international sport events are abolished definitely, because transporting masses of people could harm the environment.
Health of people improves consistently. Healthy food and a healthy lifestyle are promoted. Taking medicines diminishes. Since few people go abroad, the danger of a new pandemic is almost nonexistent. This policy of prevention makes it easier for hospitals to care for severely ill, or wounded and dying people. The number of wounded people is only a fraction of earlier admission rates because there is almost no traffic by car or motorcycle. One of the consequences of this policy is a drastic reduction of health care costs.
The communes succeed more and more to install welfare instead of excessive wealth, immoderateness and irresponsible behavior. The feeling of solidarity in each commune promotes responsible behavior in each member. There are no more isolated people who are abandoned to their fate. If there are social problems between adults or in families, one can rely on help and support of others in the neighborhood. As a consequence, there is no more need of health care services, except for severely disturbed people.
New initiatives arise everywhere to ameliorate life conditions in the communes. In each commune the leaders come forward spontaneously. When a decision has to be made, the leader consults the persons or parties involved, but there is no question to leave the final decision to an anonymous majority. The leader decides after his consultations. Democratic decision making belongs to the past. The directions of the European Commission or the United Nations have become useless. Policy is a matter of the commune. Each commune is responsible in his own territory. The Kyoto-pact is realized in a short time, because the communes have taken immediate measures to prevent further deterioration of our environment instead of making plans which will be realized perhaps in twenty or fifty years. These measures have a profound ecological impact. People have the feeling to realize paradise on earth. The air that we inhale is pure. In great cities, such as London or Paris, it is agreeable to dwell. The citizens find it unbelievable that during such a long time one accepted a huge pollution in our towns and everywhere on earth. It has become unimaginable that one could accept a gigantic cloud of toxic CO2 in our streets or that a enormous noise made one’s life a hell. Nowadays, towns and villages are people-friendly. Children can play on the streets. Pedestrians can enjoy walking in the cities and in the countryside.
The world is changing at an until recently inconceivable pace. Highways and airports are demolished. In our landscapes we find only country lanes and bike-ways. The railway is optimized and a streetcar service for individualized traffic makes possible a comfortable transport in and between communes.
Old landscapes are increasingly converted according to what we can see in paintings of past centuries. Houses from families who have died become common property. These houses are not inherited by third or higher degree relatives. By that means it becomes possible to exchanges houses so that more and more people come to the old town centers and to the villages. Buildings in the countryside or in dunes are pulled down. Unspoiled sceneries arise everywhere. Picturesque fishing villages replace former crowded seaside resorts. Large nature reserves alternates with ecological farming land.
A general sense of responsibility for one’s own people and culture gets into people’s stride. Muslims from western countries emigrate to communes in islamic countries. Huge numbers of black people from Europe and America emigrate to Africa in order to set up, together with local people, new communes. Asian people from all over the world emigrate to Asia. At the end, the world population is spread as in the times before colonization and before massive refuge from poor countries or from dictatorship.
More and more communes draw up a manifesto to put an end to weapon production and traffic. Production will be limited to defensive weapons for their own use. A peace pact proposal circulates among the communes and will be signed by all leaders. This pact stipulates that each commune takes up responsibility for mankind in general. That means that vital commodities or resources and raw material will be fairly distributed with respect to the needs of each commune in particular. An important aspect of responsibility is that each commune and each individual take care of their own development so that they can be at the service of other communes and other people. To educate oneself in order to be responsible for others. That means also that in education competition is no longer important, because each child has his own talents to develop. Each child can contribute in a specific way to the well-being of the commune.
A new spirit illuminates the world. Some people believe that a Messianic era has dawned, but no prophet has come to the surface. This spirit originates in the people themselves. All men have come to the conclusion that making money and acquiring wealth is unimportant. Nobody rejects the proposal to fix a maximum on salaries. Life becomes more meaningful, especially when one is doing good for other people. Parents and teachers know that the essence of parenting and education is to inspire the child to become a good and responsible person. Of course, the child must acquire reading, arithmetic and social skills, but the aim of his development is to take responsibility in the world. Each child has to follow his own path, The education system is individualized and focused on the development of the capacities and talents of each child. Schools for special education are no longer needed. Mentally handicapped children for example learn to express their affection and joy so that they have a salutary effect on others.
This new spirit does not depend on a new religion, philosophy or ethic. Now, it seems self-evident to all men and women to be responsible. In this era it has become unbelievable that for such a long period mankind has followed a wrong track. It has become hard to imagine that mankind didn’t adhere to very old wisdom proclaimed by all religions: to be compassionate for other people or do to others what you would like to be done to you. This golden rule must lead our relations towards our neighbors, towards people in countries far away and also towards future generations who will have to live on the planet that we leave for them. That means that each act, for example when we buy something or when we make a journey, then we have to ask ourselves what are the consequences for the others. In a commune, each man can take his responsibility to live according to the golden rule. A cruel pandemic was needed to bring this insight to mankind. Some people believe that this pandemic was an Act of God, but every knows that deep in his heart there is an appeal to be a good man. Openness for that appeal makes a human being truly humane.
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