A Successful War?

         

 

Fox and ABC News

I am so happy that the hostages have returned and the bombing in the Gaza Strip has been silenced. It is truly remarkable that this was accomplished. Understandably, their families are ecstatic.

I have been among those who expressed cautious hope. I still, to this day, do not feel confident that this is the end of war in the Middle East. My greatest fear is that all of the Palestinians who are returning home will one day find themselves caught in the middle of another conflict.

I pray it isn't so. Please let me be wrong.

I have a hard time celebrating as a success, a war where thousands upon thousands of innocent men, women and children have died. Starvation is horrendous. Homes have been completely obliterated, reduced to rubble. Those people have absolutely nothing to come back to.

I'm sure they are glad to be able to return, but the devastation is unspeakable. As someone said, the lifelong scars on the children will run deep.

We can celebrate the return of hostages, and hope for peace, but we should not be bragging. The way I see it, the constant bombing was an opportunity for a Prime Minister thirsty for land and power to take advantage of a situation. He stopped because he was pressured to do so, not because all of a sudden his desire for peace became greater than his desire for control.

I watched Trump's address to the Israeli Parliament. He called on various people who negotiated on his behalf. They smiled proudly as praise was heaped upon them.

As he poured out praise, he talked about about the "beautiful B2 bombers" previously dropped on Iran. 

Bombs are not beautiful. 

Admittedly, I lean toward pacifism. The key to making lasting change is to change the minds and hearts of the people in power. That can take time, but the effort is worth it.

We are not where we are today because of the bombing of Palestine. It accomplished nothing. Death and destruction never do. We are here because of negotiations.

Diplomacy works, as we have just witnessed. It's sad that so many died waiting for it. Death is a cost of war, albeit, not a justifiable one.

Lasting peace comes by diplomacy, not killing. We would do well to remember that and begin there, should there be a next time.

Janet Cassidy

Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

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What is your life's story?

 

 

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After the actress Diane Keaton died, the radio was playing some excerpts of interviews with her. In one of those interviews she was asked about her unique life.

Anyone familiar with her will associate her with her Annie Hall look. She had a recognizable style and flare about her. I tried to find the quote I heard, and found it online (albeit AI generated!). 

"When asked about her unconventional life, actress Diane Keaton said that she didn't see her lifestyle as unique, but rather saw that everyone's life has an 'astonishing' story behind it."

Indeed, she was right. Each one of us has an "astonishing" story behind our life. To us, it may not seem so astonishing, but the threads that weave together each of our lives create an interesting tapestry unique to us.

When I was younger, I frequently visited our local art museum, which had a huge tapestry that took up almost an entire wall of one of its rooms (or at least it seemed that big to my younger self.)

An interesting thing about the tapestry was that you could only see the full picture by standing back from it. If you were up close with your nose to the individual threads, you might see beauty in the individual strands, but you would miss what they created when woven together.

Keaton's comment reminded me of this. You might be stuck in a place in life that seems uneventful, but if you are only looking at yourself with a critical magnifying glass, you are missing the beauty of the totality of your life.

You, and everyone you meet, has an astonishing story. How much better we might be in this life if we make it our mission to discover another's story and be open to sharing our own. Furthermore, we must be careful not to be jealous of others who look like they have it all.

We might find ourselves less judgmental, and more compassionate, less cruel, and more loving if we recognize the beauty in ourselves, and others.

Think about this the next time you talk to someone. Take the time to really see them and pay attention. 

Surely, you will both be blessed.

Janet Cassidy

Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy