Blue Heron International Pictures LLC
P.O. Box 214825
South Daytona, FL 32121
United States
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.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
9
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.
16
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.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
24
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.”
49
“Thank you for your sensitive and powerful thoughts.”
“Thank you for Tomorrow’s World… we are definitely working along similar lines! Am very pleased with your book and its message, and hope it can get to many people. Your words are more powerful than all the bombs.”
Paul Williams
(author of Common Sense and editor of the first book edition of The International Bill of Human Rights)
“I surely agree that we are all responsible for tomorrow’s world. I believe that the spiritual revolution we need is toward the Brother’s Keeper principle and Bully Control”
John Gofman
(Prof. Emeritus of Medical Physics; author of Radiation and Human Health)
“I enjoyed Tomorrow’s World thoroughly and feel that we are very compatible in our thinking and our eager wish to get our message to this troubled world. Your message is clear and convincing.”
Ken Keyes
(author of The Hundredth Monkey)
"Tomorrow’s World defines the problem beautifully, but the problem’s scary. I’d like to add some words of encouragement, joy, and positivity to overcome the fear.
"Peacemaking is our urgent need. Wallow in the nuclear terror long enough to understand the urgency and get committed. But then move on.
"Nuclear weapons provide, truly, the first compelling motivation toward a world of love, understanding, and cooperation. They permit effective peacemaking!
"Wonderful things are happening. We’re breaking out of hopelessness and recognizing wonderful possibilities. You may not see them yet, but exciting peacemaking opportunities await you.”
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Blue Heron International Pictures LLC
P.O. Box 214825
South Daytona, FL 32121
United States