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Worrying about the fate of mankindDo you ever worry about things that are much larger than your own existence? Do you fear that the thoughts of a single individual, sincere as they may be, surely cannot have any bearing on the grand scheme of life? I do. I am most concerned that the actions of mankind will obliterate us from the Earth or force our descendants back into the Stone Age. I am accused, by my wife, of watching too much on the History Channel and too many PBS documentaries, but it is my means of reviewing man's inherent desire to build empires and the incredible rise in military power that caused nations to clash and the most extreme measures to be taken to end armed conflict. In America, we have persevered each time we have engaged a fanatical foe, but it has been based on resources and technology. In past conflicts we have received the full measure of courage and commitment from the few, but we can never be assured our country will follow its leadership and rally to the cause in times in the future. I don't think we can survive another century like the last one. The escalation of military destruction in World War II went from single shot rifles to the atomic bomb in four years. It may be coincidence that I am writing this on the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, but it is a brutal reminder that a single weapon, a firecracker by today's standards, instantly killed 66,000 people. In the historical analysis, President Truman had no other option than to use a weapon he didn't know existed until he became president just a few months earlier. Imagine the weight, on one person's shoulders, of being given the option of invasion of Japan and the potential loss of 1 million soldiers or the detonation of a bomb that would indiscriminately kill thousands of civilians. Remarkably, his decision seems to have been the correct one, both in military terms and in historical analysis, as we know that Japan recovered, rebuilt and moved ahead as a peaceful nation. Now I look at the rude awakening we felt at the beginning of our 21st century. It seems we are heading into a bloody era with fanatical religious and military leaders declaring their intention to destroy western civilization and whose followers will gladly serve as vehicles of destruction. Will we again turn our industries into war machines to counter their thrust? Is there a single wound that we can inflict on this enemy that will set them on a course of peace and prosperity? The sad fact is that we can't understand the mindset of Asian or Arabic cultures. We don't grasp what causes their hatred of us, other than our presence in their sphere of influence. In World War II, we did not appreciate the dedication of the Japanese people to Emperor Hirohito, nor his determination to remain a god even with millions of his subjects dying around him. It appears we are destined to have the same situation with Iran, South Korea and future foes yet unnamed. In spite of all this ideology, the key to our survival and our success has been our natural resources. The United States is strategically placed on a continent that has the ability to produce the basic essentials for life. We built a 10,000 mile supply line to Japan in World War II that began at the farm gate and the factory door. We supplied our troops and denied theirs. Our people followed the incentives of commerce to produce quality and quantity that eventually overwhelmed an island-bound adversary. We don't want to kid ourselves that we are stronger willed than our opponents. We have shown that we will sacrifice much for the cause of our own freedom, but how much is yet to be determined against the nebulous foes we face today. There is no question that our arsenal of military weapons is overwhelming, but how do you destroy the anger that is in the hearts of millions scattered across the world? As long as we can sustain ourselves agriculturally, we can continue our incredible progression toward understanding and adopting technologies that benefit man and planet. As long as we can safeguard our crops and livestock, we can live the indulgent lifestyle we consider our birthright. But we should always be aware that the tools and technology we develop can be used against us in ways we have yet to imagine. I see no end to religion-based conflicts around the world. I see no end to societies who will elevate a leader who will seek to build an empire to become a self proclaimed deity. It is in our nature to do so. As we elect a president in the year ahead, I hope we select one who has the intellect to understand the world we live in, compassion for all the people who live in it, the leadership to keep our homeland resources intact and the wisdom to know when to act and when to allow cultures to live their own lives without our interference. Choose well. Editor's note: Ken Root is now celebrating his 34th year as an agricultural professional. His career has spanned from being a vocational agriculture teacher to environmental consulting to farm broadcasting. He was the original host of AgriTalk (1994-2001) and now is lead farm broadcaster for WHO Radio in Des Moines, Iowa. Ken and Jennifer Bremer also publish the Midwest Ag Report electronic newsletter each Friday. A free e-mail subscription is available by going online to www.hpj.com/edemail/newsletter/MWAGRegistration.cfm. Ken can be reached by e-mail at kenroot@clearchannel.com or by mail at the Journal at P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801.
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