Very well said. History is practically just wars that are interrupted by peace. We've got so complacent about ever being involved in another major conflict we could be sleepwalking towards one that's potentially just around the corner. Not until peoples TVs turn off and they can't vote for Xfactor or Celebrity Jungle will half the population care what's going on in their country or the larger world. Bit late then.
Sleep-walking is the right expression. It's easy for people to feel everyone's being over-dramatic (I wonder myself sometimes) but I do think the world is now far more dangerous than any time since the 1980s and, arguably, since the 1930s. It seems there's a large, moderate section of society - me included - who are good at talking and 'tutting' about this stuff and a probably even larger section who would just stick their heads in the sand and prefer not to worry about it. By the time they come, finally, blinking into the light, the damage could be beyond repair. In the meantime, Trump and his ilk have shown how unacceptable behaviour can be adopted as mainstream perhaps far quicker than anyone expected. Where extremes lead, masses follow and, though they are still a minority combined, their drive to (re)create a world that favours them is powerful. There's clearly a need for a more frank and open debate about how countries should evolve and integrate new people and cultures but I have a hunch that the likes of Trump and Farage might not be the ideal figureheads to lead that movement....