War and Mercy In 2020
“The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: ‘T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown: His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice.” --- Portia's Speech from The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene I, William Shakespeare, 1564 - 1616 Suppose you wanted to stop war for just one year, say in the year 2020. You figure people might like peace for a year so much they’ll want to make it permanent. You figure, ‘what the hell…it’s worth a shot right? What do you think it would take to convince all the people of the