Download A History of Violence, a PDF file containing a March 2007 Steven Pinker article from The New Republic Online about how we kill each other less now and feel worse about it when we do than at any other time in human history. The article is full of pithy stuff:
European modernity accelerated a "civilizing process" marked by increases in self-control, long-term planning, and sensitivity to the thoughts and feelings of others.
We enjoy the peace we find today because people in past generations were appalled by the violence in their time and worked to end it.
This material is copyright The New Republic Online, and it's probably not meant to be distributed without their permission, but I think the article is so worthwhile I'll take the risk. If the copyright owner wishes me to stop distributing this, please contact me by email at pete in the user part and graffiti.graceland.ca in the domain part, and I will do so.