We find ourselves in a political campaign season overlapping with our Holidays. Despite the many wars and heated debates about those wars, this is not the time of the year for thinking hateful thoughts or for promoting vengeful actions—not even if we justify our thoughts or acts by calling them purely defensive, not even if we fear “it’s them or us!”

We all have those reflexes. Who hasn’t responded in kind to someone else’s aggression or slight or unkind word? Truth be told, we may feel like lashing out several times a day. Think of your momentary rage when a driver cuts you off, when a shopper grabs the last sale item away, when a bully targets you or your child. Defensive gut-reactions are hard-wired deep in our DNA. Our instinct for self-preservation still serves us.

Yet, we have re-programmed ourselves throughout time to be reasonable, to settle differences peacefully and to slow the swift impulse toward anger. We have learned to be polite and to show respect. We have learned to pay close attention when we listen to all sides in settling our differences. And we have gained justice and freedom through our slow, steady advancements to live together peacefully and to love one another.

Here is the formula. It’s simple: L=ra²

Math from the heart—Love = respect and attention squared.

This equation is basic. It is well-tried. It is true. Could it be as crucial as Einstein’s special theory (E=mc²) that proved empirically to the world that energy and mass are equivalent and transmutable? This equation for kindness may be even more critical to our self-preservation. It does not have to prove anything, for we know instinctively that it is true.

Love and forgiveness are equivalent and transmutable.

Einstein’s wisdom proves why gravity holds us tightly to the surface of our Earth.

Our spiritual leaders through the ages opened our hearts to Love.

And heeding the brilliance of our philosophers, we understand that paying respectful attention to each other yields compound interest for all who partake.

With all our scientific, spiritual and secular wisdom, we hold the keys to survival, the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and the keys to peace on Earth.

Save History. End War!

Image: Jo Brown’s quilted segment of the Peace Ribbon that encircled the Pentagon in 1985