She paused, to give me time to think. "I personally must respond to what is evidently the truth, based on my highest scientific perception where opinions have no place," she said a minute later. "This means that I have to say about contrary popular opinions: What have they got to do with anything? Do they change the principles involved? I must make a clear choice, Peter, for the truth, which in this case is reflected in the Principle of Universal Love that comes to light everywhere as the foundation of our civilization. I am offering you a chance to take this stand for a universal principle that the whole world denies. That's a rare opportunity that you might not have again. Yes, acknowledging this principle creates a lot of problems with people who value popular opinion, such as yourself. But I also trust that you value the truth. So, Peter, am I right in fighting for what is true, and inviting you to join me?"

      "Of course you are right," I responded. That answer was truthfully given. It reflected the joy that she had had already brought me, but it also reflected a budding understanding that what she said is scientifically correct. Public opinion seldom had been a boon for society, but had been the root for horrific tragedies. "Wasn't the great Socrates of Athens indicted, convicted, and murdered by popular opinion, under a system of democracy without profound constitutional principles?" I asked her. "Popular opinion already ruled supreme in 400 BC, and I believe that the indictment of Socrates was for, 'impiety.' He died for his stand for principle in defense of the truth. I believe he was charged with 'corrupting the young' and with 'neglecting the gods that the city worshipped.' Those charges were brought against him by two of the chiefs of the democrats, where they not?"

      "Yes, Peter, it was small minded popular opinion, empowered by an unrestrained democracy, that killed Socrates. The seventy year old genius and philosopher, who still inspires humanity after more than twenty-four centuries after his death, was put to death by the democracy of popular opinion. Thus, Athens killed one of its greatest citizens who stood up for the truth. So, Peter, nothing has changed. The rule of democracy still has this effect. The fact that we have over sixty thousand nuclear bombs hanging over our head tells me that society has not yet found it possible to include the Principle of Universal Love among its constitutional principles. That defines our job, Peter. It's as simple as that."

      Helen told me that the rule of unprincipled democracy is already killing entire nations with small-minded thinking and disrespect for the truth. She suggested that it is has been historically a rather rare occurrence when a nation was destroyed by forces external to it. She said that in most cases the destruction originates from within by the cupidity of small-minded popular opinion that society defends, often viciously. Thus, under the rule of such pure democracy, society is more likely to defend delusions rather than the truth.

      She said about her fight. "Like Socrates did, I fight for the truth, and that fight is not a fight against society, but a fight to uplift it. Yes, that puts me at odds with society and causes me great problems with many people. But what about those problems? Who cares? Isn't the outcome worth fighting for?"



      "Those problems," said Helen moments later and laughed, "are like Prometheus' eternal pains that he bore for the sake of his love for humanity. Of course, universal love is something greater than even that kind of love is. It's something new, something daring, something honest, and something quite wonderful. Just because we have denied the universality of love for centuries, as we have been demanded to do, doesn't mean that we have to continue with this silly game forever. We can stop this game at any time and focus on something that is real. We have the potential to richly benefit from one of the great universal principles in existence that according to all evidence is designed to enrich our lives. So, when you speak of problems, ask yourself: What do they have to with anything?"

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Stories about War from novels by Rolf A. F. Witzsche