"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited, imagination encircles the entire world" - Albert Einstein 

Peace is here... How?

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited, imagination encircles the entire world" - Albert Einstein 

 This quote is at the core of “Believing in Harvey” as this solution to a world of peace. I will first give you three examples of how the publics’ thoughts and opinions were changed almost over night, with lies and illusions. I believe using the same method, for peaceful solutions, can have the same impact which will not be fleeting, but lasting. 

 - Creating fear in your own imagination. 

In 1938, Mr. Orson Welles directed and narrated the radio version of War of the Worlds (adaptation of H.G. Welles) an episode of the American radio drama anthology series. It was performed as a Halloween episode of the series and aired over the WABC Radio network. The first two thirds of the 60-minute broadcast were presented as a series of simulated news bulletins, which suggested too many listeners that an actual Martian invasion was in progress. The show ran without commercial breaks, thus adding to the dramatic effect. Some fled their homes; others were terrified and panic spread across the US. Even with huge criticism, Mr. Welles came to fame and remembered as being a visionary, illusionist and imaginative director. It is believed over the years since the 1930’s the military leaders have used similar exaggerated methods through the media, in the Gulf War, the Vietnam war and in Iraq.

- Changing the mind set, through the media and one event.

In Germany 1933, the Reichstag building was subject to an arson attack allegedly caused by the Communists. At the time the Communist Party were gathering strength, then with 17% of the vote, with Hitler and the Nazis with 33%. Over 50% is needed for a majority. With the Communists being blamed for this event, after the Reichstag election the Nazis vote jumped from 33% to 44%.  This gave the Nazis and their allies, the German National People's Party (who won 8% of the vote) a majority of 52%. This event was the turning point that made Hitler dictator of Germany. It is still not clear whether Hitler planned this fire or not, however the Reichstag Fire allowed Hitler to accelerate the banning of the Communist Party. The Nazis capitalized on the fear that the Reichstag fire was supposed to serve as a signal launching the Communist revolution in Germany, and promoted this claim in their campaign.

- The taste of peace stopped a war.

In WW1 on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1914, German troops began decorating the area around their trenches in the region of Ypres, Belgium, for Christmas. They began by placing candles on trees, and then continued the celebration by singing Christmas carols, most notably Silent Night. The British troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English carols.Soon thereafter, there were calls for visits across the "No Man's Land" where small gifts were exchanged. The artillery in the region fell silent that night. This rest time allowed a breathing spell where recently-fallen soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Proper burials took place as soldiers from both sides mourned the dead together and paid their respects. The truce spread to other areas of the lines, and there are many stories of football matches between the opposing forces. In many sectors, the truce lasted through Christmas night, but in some areas, it continued until New Year's Day. The truce occurred in spite of opposition at higher levels of the military. British commanders vowed that no such truce would be allowed again. The media covered very little of the news nor did they mention that Pope Benedict XV called for an official truce between the warring governments. His request was ignored. 

Peace is Here.

After reading these three stories, Perhaps, you may now see how I believe that it is quite simple for those in power to start or end a war, by just changing the public opinions or feelings. In other words it is only us who carry out a war, on their behalf.If I was a billionaire and I create a similar hoax like Mr. Welles, but this time pretending we have peace, would this cause the same impact? If the soldiers at war stopped shooting awaiting confirmation that this is a hoax, would they have the same taste of peace like those in 1914, that they would find it hard to return to fight?I believe, peace is here, it has always been here, it will always depend on the individuals’ feelings and thoughts who can manifest one’s own world of peace around you. Others will follow. I believe in Einsteins’ words, “Imagination is more important than knowledge”. If you imagine peace, you then feel it, in time it becomes real, just like the human imagination created from aircraft, to the internet to penicillin.Frank Muldowney