I am reasonably computer literate, but I still love books. On page 752 of Encyclopedia Britannica Volume X, I quote, “…Although minor wars and colonial rivalries also threatened the peace of Europe, the period 1871-1914 was marked chiefly by the conclusion of a series of alliances by major powers.

“These agreements were usually impermanent, sometimes incongruous, and occasionally misunderstood by the signatories…”

The section begins with World War I and continues with many references to other sections covering the many intricacies of two world wars.

Does anyone remember the diplomats from Japan negotiating with the USA right here in our land of freedom while the attacks on Pearl Harbor were underway? What about the major world powers deciding to not intervene with Hitler’s Nazi Party as they seized Austria and Czechoslovakia?

Please read former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s autobiography, “Madam Secretary,” to learn more about the plight of Czechoslovakia when her father was a diplomat during her childhood.

If you listened to Prime Minister Netanyahu this Easter Sunday morning on TV, you would only need to know from life experience how little value there is in a piece of paper with signatories of different cultures. Other nations believe it is noble and clever to deceive their enemies.

Clever deception simply empowers the leaders. Sanctions work. No compromise is good once the sanctions are eased. The bloodshed turns to water over a mindless dam.

Maybe the best way to evaluate our intelligence is our acceptance of the value of the U.S. dollar, which is printed on special paper without the gold standard. Just keep printing and maybe in the future we can print our own to meet our individual needs.

If you can believe that.