Instruction must happen before construction. Buildings do not appear without a blueprint. Before a desired culture is formed, education must be the forerunner. A nation in disarray or infected with warring factions is the product of a culture that has been educated in superstitions falsely creating enemies out of superficial issues. In several countries there are warring tribes that have educated their young to identify the other as enemy based upon the shade of their skin, geographical location, or because of a belief system that places the other tribe as a tangible evil. Education that is devoid of the value of one’s fellowman becomes an atmosphere conducive for hate to flourish as weeds choking out the possibilities of growth, that can be only born out of the platform of peace.

True and lasting peace is not the product of an explosion that catches everyone by surprise. It is the product of a methodical and intentional process of education that concentrates first on the intrinsic value of every human person regardless of the trappings of their circumstances, wealth, or position of life. That value not being defined by anything superficial, but rather placing others on the balance scales of life being equal to my own.

The Golden Rule states that we are to treat others the way we want to be treated. That demands me to value others as equal to myself. The scales of justice and equality are stabilized by the Golden Rule and peace begins to reign.

Education imparts knowledge which in turn creates a lens for the individual to look through. This is the power of education and child training.

Dorothy Law Nolte wrote in Children Learn What They Live (1998) the following.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Imagine the culture if all the above positives were implemented! The nation where these are employed would increase in inventions, economic growth, and all kinds of breakthroughs. Human potential being unleashed would be like nothing the world has ever seen.

– Dr. Reuben Egolf