Does anyone think we can ever beat our swords into plowshares?

[rasputin1952]

I've gotten to know an awful lot of people here at DU, and have great respect for the intellect, humor and general hope we all have here. I recently began thinking of the mortality of humanity, and am wondering if we can ever get to the point where we can all die from 'old age'.

I am not a fool, and I know there are evil people out there, and morality is more spoken than practiced, but does the chance exist that we can somehow come together for the good of mankind?

In the past, we've conquered diseases, fought famine and starvation, we've come to realize, at times, that when we work together, we all can win. We can teach others to fish and grow crops. Hell, we throw away enough to feed the world; yet pollute that very world we count on for existence.

Philosophy, the great equalizer...can we come to the point where the dream of every man, woman and child to be free and equal becomes a reality...or are we doomed as a species to become no more than dust, forgotten by all except those that feed upon us?