If you don't know "kid-friendly" New Mexico,

wine festival a few years ago and had a good time.
...
Now, though, we have this: Reuters' coverage in California included this overheard question from an eyewitness. "Why would anyone shoot up a garlic festival?"

My theory is these sick pups will do _anything_ for attention, even if the odds of being killed themselves are almost guaranteed. In circumstances/places/cultures where "life is cheap" - not that it *ever* is, terrorism has traditionally been employed for its utter shock value while displaying supreme contempt for the sanctity of life. Goes back as far, almost, as we do. The abolition of torture machines ( at least ostensibly ) after the Enlightenment gave a ray of hope - ? - for us in evolving socially, then Gatling guns and such mechanised instruments of war, originally dreamed of as a _solution_ or deterrent became, in WW1, the first hint of our accelerating descent toward madness, culminating in such as Mutually Assured Destruction.

> " Gentlemen, you can't fight here ! This is the War Room ! " < being one of my fave lines from the brilliant director S. Kubrick's flicks. He and A. C. Clarke quickly rebounded though, with perhaps the best sci-fi
movie of the 20th century...

Rick " Cinerama in London was a 'big deal' in '68, let me tell ya! " Jones

the last word I think of when considering human behavior.

would you prefer "refining" or "civilizing" or something like that?

I agree with your thrust - seems we have a looooonnnnggg way to go. It's been opined many times from many thinkers far more educated than yours truly that the main reason the "space people" [ translation - alien sentient beings ] have not stopped by to say " Hi! " is that we _do_ have a long way to go before we join the " Galactic Club " or whatever. Then there is the Fermi paradox - with the answer by Leo Szilard that the aliens are already here, disguised as Hungarians. (!) Or the SNL answer - Coneheads, from "France" (if anyone asks!).

Rick

The version I read many years ago. Leo:
'You Hungarians are from Mars. You're super intelligent and your language doesn't link with any others nearby'. (True, apparently.)
There was a third tipoff, which I've forgotten. I'm not Magyar.

was amazing. I studied French, so I can tell you the accent was impeccable. The actor is Canadian BTW, but Anglophone AFAIK. (Forgot the name. I'm not Magyar.)

"refining" or "civilizing".
None of the above, actually.

Anecdotal evidence: The fierce Napoleon executed his soldiers in italy for molestation. Two hundred years later, two nominally Christian armies in the Balkans used mass rape as a weapon against Muslims. One anecdote of many.

Better evidence: 2Tim 3:1-5. We read it at the door (unless Bill slams it in our faces) and ask if the person if they notice any of it in the media. Most say, Are you kidding? Of course.
Or words to that effect. 2000 years old.
Yet evolution says we must be improving; law of nature.

The solutions proposed involve men fixing man-made problems. (New laws or President or whatever.)
Yet men also say evolution marches on, so not "fixable" in any real sense.

The Bible said, long ago, with no science behind it, that we aren't able even to direct our own steps. That includes DJT and BO, who claimed to be qualified to direct ours. Jer 10:23
Daily experience says that's as true as 2Timothy.

The Bible not only has answers, it asks the right questions.

And while what you note about rape being used to demoralize, etc. in war is still, sadly, happening, it is rightly condemned as the war crime it is. Happened in the various conflicts in Rwanda, other
"coups" or military clashes in parts of Africa, reportedly used often in South and Central America, the list goes on... What I'm getting at is that slowly - very slowly, but still - progress is being made.

I think I also know what _you_ are getting at. And I agree - we
are as blind men in a forest of brambles when it comes to governing ourselves, and sorely need direction from "above" through wise words of those who wrote - directed through Jesus ( if you are Christian) or other (super)naturals : Buddha , etc., other prophets or heralders who 'saw the light' as it were. [ don't get too upset about the specifics - I've told you already I'm almost illiterate when it comes to big R Religion! ].

Rick " lapsed pagan " Jones