Blue Heron  International Pictures LLC 

ARMIN D. LEHMANN

TOMORROW’S WORLD

A BOOK OF PEACE

In 1983, TOMORROW'S WORLD - A Book of Peace - was published and copyrighted. The 54-page booklet (5000 copies) is now out of print. Armin D. Lehmann decided against printing a second edition. Instead, he posted the entire content on his website.

After he passed away, Armin's website went dark and TOMORROW’S WORLD was almost lost to the public. It is posted on this website as a tribute to its author. Unfortunately, the illustrations provided by the author’s grand-daughter have been lost. They have been replaced with images from Lemann/Lester family photo albums and from nature.

The reader has permission to reproduce all or parts of TOMORROW’S WORLD in any form, or by any means, electronic and mechanical, including photocopying and recording, and by all information, storage and retrieval systems.

Published originally by www.arminlehmannforpeace.com

in Coos Bay, Oregon, U.S.A.

Unlimited edition

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Lehmann, Armin-Dieter, 1928

TOMORROW'S WORLD

1.Peace I. Title 82-73922

ISBN 0-911561-00-5

 

TOMORROW'S WORLD

is a declaration of Love

and dedicated to Kim,

to Angie, to Mikayla,

and to our extended family

today, tomorrow, forever...

Hands-on friends to be

thanked include, above all,

Loren Reichman. Angie

developed the website,

and Mikayla, at age eleven,

contributed most of the hand-drawn illustrations.

WE

THE HUMAN BEINGS

OF THIS EARTH

IN CLAIMING

OUR BIRTHRIGHT

TO LIVE,

ARE DETERMINED

TO SECURE

A FUTURE

IN WHICH LIFE

CAN CONTINUE . . .

++++++++++++++++++++++

1

OUR GROWING AWARENESS

THAT WE MUST NOT ONLY BAN

NUCLEAR WAR,

BUT ANY WAR,

MAKES US COGNIZANT

OF THE IMPORTANCE

OF PRESERVING

OUR PLANET EARTH

AS A SAFE-HOLD

OF LIFE:

2

TO PROTECT

THE BIRTHRIGHT

OF FUTURE GENERATIONS,

TO PROVIDE

THE ECOLOGICAL

PREREQUISITES

FOR LIFE TO CONTINUE,

TO PREVENT FORTHWITH

MAN'S INHUMANITY

AGAINST MAN, AND

TO PROMOTE

3

THE WHOLENESS

CONCEPT OF

ONE WORLD

FOR ALL PEOPLE

COEXISTING NONVIOLENTLY

AND PROGRESSING

HARMONIOUSLY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL.

BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

WE MUST STOP THE HATE !!!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4

WHEN WEALTH

INFLUENCES

DEMOCRACIES

WE FACE PROBLEMS –

PROBLEMS

TO BE DEALT WITH.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

5

After World War II

I visited the site

of a former

Concentration camp.

The horrors imprinted

upon my mind

never left me.

One question emerged:

What can I do,

and what must be done

by others individually

and by nations collectively,

to prevent the rise

of another Hitler

and to make sure

that Nazism

(or any other form

of racist nationalism,

6

with inhuman, brutal

and murderous intent)

will never again

take hold of a people -

in Germany or anywhere else?

I found the answer

by becoming conscious

of my conscience.

I challenged myself

to develop and maintain

a high sense of moral conduct,

and I challenged others

to do the same.

And I shall continue to do so

until I die!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

7

BY THE TIME I REACHED THE SITE

DESTROYED BY THE FIRST

ATOMIC EXPLOSION IN WARFARE,

THE H-BOMB HAD BEEN

DEVELOPED.

MY VISION OF ATOMIC POWER -

UNLEASHED ONCE MORE

AND IN FAR GREATER

PROPORTIONS -

IS REFLECTED IN A POEM

I WROTE,

WHILE STILL IN HIROSHIMA.

8

CONSCIOUS OF MY CONSCIENCE,

I RESOLVED THEN

TO BECOME INVOLVED

AND TO HELP TRANSFORM PEACE

FROM AN ELUSIVE IDEAL

TO A PERMANENT REALITY.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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AFTER THE BLAST

ASHES AND ICE

AND THE SUN

LACED TEARS

THROUGH THE

DEAD PLANET'S

EYES.

Aware of the consequences

Of destructions caused

By weapons everywhere -

Some so dangerous

That they threaten the

Very existence of life -

We become responsible

For instilling the truth

Into the collective

Consciousness

Of mankind.

10

THE TIME SPAN

OF THE POTENCY

OF RADIOACTIVITY

AND OTHER WAR-RELATED

EFFECTS

ARE ESTIMATED

TO SURPASS

TEN THOUSAND YEARS . . .

WE ARE AWARE

THAT RADIATION-CAUSED

DEFECTS

MOST OFTEN

CANNOT BE CURED.

THEY MUST BE PREVENTED !

11

IF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS

OF MEGATON PROPORTIONS

TAKE PLACE

IN WAR - OR BY ACCIDENT -

THE DESTRUCTION WOULD

ANNIHILATE

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE

AND THE ANIMAL

AND PLANT LIFE

WHICH SURROUND THEM.

12

A NUCLEAR WAR

OF MAJOR PROPORTIONS

WOULD SCORCH

THE ENTIRE EARTH

AND TOTALLY ELIMINATE

ALL FORMS OF LIFE -

FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.

13

It was a soldier, General Omar Bradley, who challenged human intelligence to work for the salvation of mankind, not its destruction. He warned that-

“We are now speeding inexorably toward a day when even the ingenuity of our scientists may be unable to save us from the consequences of a single rash act or a lone reckless hand upon the switch of an un-interceptible missile."

“This irony can probably be compounded a few more years, or perhaps even a few decades."

“Missiles will bring anti-missiles, and anti-missiles will bring anti-anti-missiles.”

“Inevitably this whole electronic house of cards will reach a point where it can be constructed no higher. At that point, we shall have come to the peak of this whole incredible dilemma into which the world is shoving itself. And when that time comes, there will be little we can do other than to settle down uneasily, smother our fears, and attempt to live in a thickening shadow of death.”

“We should not assume that reason would prevail in a crisis when there is so little reason among men.”

And General Bradley concluded that seeking an accord and compromise which will make it possible for mankind to banish atomic weapons as instruments of war is “the most strenuous challenge of man’s intellect today.”

__________

Note: Quotes are excerpts from General Bradley’s speech, delivered November 5,1957 in Washington, D.C.. The italics are used reflect the author’s understanding of what Bradley wanted to emphasize.



Despite

existing adversities,

despite

basic love/hate instincts

still prevalent in human beings,

a lasting peace on earth

is possible

if we all strive for it

and believe in our ability

to bring about world peace.

To preserve life

On this planet,

We have to spread

Our belief in peace,

We have to work,

Even fight -

In a nonviolent way -

For our right to live!

+++++++++++++++++++++

15

Catalysts

Have a multiplication effect

On the energies

Of combining substances.

In chemistry,

By combining certain materials,

We are able to create forces

Many times greater

Than the cumulative power

Of the individual substances.

But we are also able

To create immense energies

When we unite thoughts.

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Thus let it be known

That we hold the key

To unlock great potency

By convincing

Enough people

To use their combined moral strength

To permanently

Maintain peace on earth.

Because we understand

That, through peace,

Survival is possible,

17



We must link up

With our friends

And reach out to contact people

Everywhere,

Including those

Who represent us

And work for us,

Politicians and

Government employees,

And those

To whom we look up,

Our artists,

Cultural and

Spiritual leaders

*****************************

18

WHAT HAS HAPPENED

IN THE PAST

IS IRREVERSIBLE

AND CANNOT BE REVOKED.

THIS WE MUST ACCEPT.

THE FUTURE, HOWEVER,

CAN BE INFLUENCED.

19



REALIZATIONS

We cause

Changes

Through

Realizations

For as long

As we live.

20

REALITY IS

WHAT WE CONCEIVE

TO EXIST

ON LEVELS

OF CONSCIOUSNESS.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

WITH REALITY

MEANS FACING UP

TO WHAT EXISTS.

IT MEANS TO ACKNOWLEDGE

WITHIN OURSELVES

THE PRESENCE OF ARSENALS

FILLED WITH WEAPONS

WHICH COULD DESTROY

THE WHOLE WORLD

OVER AND OVER AGAIN -

MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES!

THESE WEAPONS,

IF UNLEASHED,

WOULD NOT ONLY

CHAR OUR WORLD,

BUT WOULD CONTAMINATE IT

FOR A PERIOD LONGER

THAN IMAGINABLE…

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

21

Wars are fought for victory.

In this nuclear age,

the greatest and only victory

is PEACE -

permanently and on a global scale.

22

It is impossible

To provide

For anything

If we don’t

Provide for

Life.

Under the threat

Of nuclear war,

Peace

Means life.

 

23

LIFE

WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY

IS DOOMED TO FAILURE.

MANY ILLNESSES,

ONCE DEADLY,

ARE NOW CURABLE.

LIFE EXPECTANCY

HAS INCREASED.

YET, MANKIND FACES

TOTAL EXTINCTION

UNLESS WE DO

SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

NOW!

WE HAVE

A NEW RESPONSIBILITY:

TO WORK FOR SURVIVAL -

TO BECOME

MISSIONARIES OF PEACE.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

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TO PREVENT EXTINCTION,

WE HAVE TO HEED THE WARNING

AND FIGHT -

WITHOUT BLOODSHED -

TO ELIMINATE WARS

AND WEAPONS.

THIS REQUIRES

THAT WE FACE UP TO REALITY,

THAT WE MOBILIZE

OUR CONSCIOUSNESS,

THAT WE REVISE

OUR THINKING

AND CHANGE

OUR GOALS

AND THAT OF OUR LEADERS

*******************************

25

 



OUR CHILDREN-

YOUR CHILDREN

AND MINE -

CHILDREN EVERYWHERE -

HAVE THE RIGHT

TO SURVIVE,

AS HAVE THEIR CHILDREN

AND ALL GENERATIONS

TO COME!

THUS, WE HAVE TO KEEP

POISONING

AND DESTRUCTION

FROM HAPPENING,

AND ELIMINATE HATE

TODAY, TOMORROW

AND FOREVER…

ΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟ

26

It was an eleven-year-old girl who said…

Peace Questions –

Armin asked his granddaughter Mikayla (2005).

“What does PEACE mean to you?”

“When people live in harmony, they live peacefully with others and they don’t hate.”

“How important is it to you?”

“It’s very important to me, us... the world, the animals. If we didn’t have peace the world would be full of hatred. You have to find peace within yourself. Friendships are made from peace. If animals did not have peace they would not be able to survive, to work together to find food, to survive.”

“How can we make our world more peaceful?”

“Instead of hating people, find a reason not to hate them and make peace with them.”

“Is life good to you?”

“Of course; life is good if you just enjoy what’s around you, do things like smell the flowers, watch the beautiful sunsets, and just enjoy a beautiful day”.

27

“What's more important - money or love, and why?

“Love, because if love were money, I’d rather have a million dollars in love. Love and friendship are more important than money. And if you don’t have enough money the people you love will be there for you no matter what. If you really love someone and you see them happy it really warms up your soul.”

“Do you believe in God?”

“Yes”

“How do you find God?”

“If you really, really search, you’ll find him in your heart.”

“Do you like animals?”

“I absolutely LOVE them! If I could be a God over something, I would like to watch over the animals.”

28

“Which animals do you like most?”

“I love dogs and cats a whole lot.”

“Least?”

“I would have to say, snakes and spiders are my least favorite, but I don’t hate them.”

“Of all you can wish for what do you wish for the most?”

“All the animals and the people in the world would be happy.”

“Do you know who Hitler was?”

“Yes.”

“What do you know about him?”

“I can’t really judge him, because I don’t know what all of the reasons and circumstances were.”

“What do you know about war?”

“That people fight for their people’s freedom.”

29

“Are wars necessary?”

“I don’t think so; I don’t think they should just start killing each other.”

“What do you suggest should be done to bring peace to our world?”

“Find peace within yourself! And find things that are nice about them and find a reason not to hate!”

“Is it OK for people to kill in the name of God, any God?”

“No, our God doesn’t want us to be killing each other, He doesn’t want us to be mean, to hate.”

30

Let us look

into the eyes

of our young…

Their expressions

tell us

how much they

Want to live!

  

31

WE ALL

ARE RESPONSIBLE

FOR PEACE.

**************************

OUR PRISONS ARE FILLED

WITH HUMAN BEINGS

WHOSE MINDS ARE BENT -

WHAT ARE WE DOING

TO STRAIGHTEN THEM

SINCE MOST IN POWER

PREFER TO PUNISH THEM

INSTEAD OF HEALING THEM.

***************************

32

WE CANNOT MAKE

THIS WORLD

A BETTER PLACE

IN WHICH TO LIVE

IF WE DON’T

PROTECT IT.

TO PROTECT THIS PLANET

AS A SANCTUARY OF LIFE

IS A RESPONSIBILITY

TO BE ASSUMED

BY EVERYONE

WHO LIVES ON EARTH…

33

YOU AND I –

AND HUMANS EVERYWHERE-

MUST RESOLVE,

WITHOUT DELAY,

ONCE AND FOREVER,

TO PRESERVE THIS PLANET

FOR WHAT IT IS MEANT TO BE:

A PLACE FOR LIFE

AND FOR LIVING!

*******************************************************************************************

34

To survive,

To surmount the dangers

Of destruction,

Has been man’s goal since the beginning of his existence.

Caves he dug,

Tree huts he built,

Cliff dwellings he created,

Mountain retreats,

Turreted castles,

Fortresses and walled cities-

All were constructed for survival…

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

35

History has demonstrated

that slavery,

poverty and injustice

culminate

in revolutionary

expressions.

Our primary concern

Must be

To eradicate

slavery, poverty

and injustice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

36

In today’s world,

Love

Is our only refuge,

Since bonds of love create peace.

Unselfish human endeavor

Will establish

The strongest

Foundation for lasting peace.

37

The old concept says That power feeds on power

And that the end is war,

Which destroys all.

Let us replace that

concept of death

with a new concept of life;

Love nourishes love

to continue the cycles

of existence.

88888888888888888888

38

Loving thoughts

and clear

reasoning

dispel

controversies

before

they turn

into conflict.

39

DEATH

RESOLVES

NO CONFLICT;

IT ONLY

BURIES

THE ISSUES.

PEACE

PROVIDES US

WITH THE OPPORTUNITY

TO FIND A SOLUTION

FOR EVERY

EXISTING

PROBLEM.

****************************************

40

The primal source

of peace

is the human mind.

The idea is

to coexist

and to make

coexistence

a prevailing condition,

maintained by

the powers

of our conscious

and subconscious minds.

<><><><><><><><><>

41

The source of all

That’s good,

The source of peace

And morality,

The source of everything

you wish for-

is your mind.

Man is not bound

by any system

but can shape this world

to his own ideas.

What is imagination

but a growing thought?

Let us all

imagine PEACE.

Let’s center our

thoughts upon it-

individually and collectively,

with a singleness of purpose

and a multitude of intentions.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

42

Our coming together,

our merging of thoughts,

the gathering flow

of our combined energies

will create

a broad delta of peace

and will make this stream

an essential contributor

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

43

The outer world

is but a reflection

of the inner world.

Our mental concept

of peace

creates

a world without strife.

We cause changes

through awareness

by creating

an all-new vision:

Our ultimate strength

cannot be found in weapons

but in our love

for each other.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////

44



BY OUTGROWING

OLD NOTIONS,

BY LEAVING BEHIND

TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS,

WE PROVIDE

THE GROUND

FOR A FUTURE

OF SURVIVAL.

***************************

Since Earth’s arsenals

already have the capacity

to raze the entire world

many times over,

and since the heaping

of already obsolete weaponry

creates a mounting

ecological danger,

we must

call an immediate

HALT!

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

46

Help expand

awareness,

help raise

humanity’s consciousness.

Help yourself,

and help all

living beings

who want to survive.

Help to protect and maintain

a life-supporting planet.

Before it is

too late

we need

to break off

HATE!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

47

WE ARE ALL

RESPONSIBLE

FOR TOMORROW’S

WORLD…

48

 

APPENDIX

COMMENTS AND AFFIRMATIONS

Prior to publication of Tomorrow’s World, one hundred preview copies were sent out to friends all over the world, among them several writers and spiritual leaders, dedicated to the welfare of humanity and to promoting world peace.

Responses were gratifying and encouraging.

“We are fighting death and famine here,” wrote a missionary from Africa. “It’s a most basic struggle for survival. We need a future of peace, a safe world everywhere. Thank you for your words, which are of such great inspiration. Yes, we all are responsible for tomorrow’s world, wherever we are and whatever we do.”

A 19 year-old high school student from Japan wrote, “I want to dedicate my whole life to Peace and study with you.

A friend in Chicago forwarded his copy of Tomorrow’s World to a relative in Poland. There, excerpts of the book were translated, and a young schoolteacher started a peace letter campaign…

Orders for the book reached us even before its publication was announced. Word of mouth travels fast and more and more people contact us every day.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross wrote, “I will read Tomorrow’s World at my workshop, and will contribute to its distribution.”

From other notable personalities and well-known writers, we received the following comments and affirmations:

“THANK YOU FOR YOUR BOOK OF PEACE. IT PRESENTS THE ARGUMENT FOR PEACE N A POWERFUL WAY.”

Linus Pauling 1901-1994

(Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 1962)

“Global violence, like a disease, is the effect of unconscious conflict contained in all individuals. When individuals realize that there is no ‘enemy’ outside of themselves and utilize the power of Love to redirect individual unconscious violence, then the projection of violence onto the external world will cease. First, an individual must recognize his or her own violent nature, or the potential of this nature. As is contained in all great teachings, the task is self-realization.”

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