Bombs will never bring peace

 

                                                                                                           

      The New York Times                                   

Bombs will never bring peace. They can't. They are designed to destroy their target, so it is not within their design to bring peace.

We can always hope for peace, and that is a good thing. The problem is, we equate quiet and idleness with peace, which they are not. We can have quiet between countries for awhile, but that in no way represents that we have long-term peace.

The illusion of peace is deceptive.

To achieve true, lasting peace, there must not only be a genuine desire for it, but a willingness to sacrifice power and ego. There must be an ideological mindset, which necessarily includes emotional restraint, fueled by wisdom and humility.

We must continue to work hard on diplomacy if we are going to make any progress. Diplomacy may not work perfectly, as history has shown us, but it certainly has the potential to save lives.

Our hearts should cry out for the innocents of Israel, Palestine and Iran, as well as migrants and others throughout the world who are suffering so much. Families, including children, whose lives are completely upended, who lack food, shelter and protection, do not deserve to be caught in the crossfire. 

Today, we simply must do everything we can to avoid violence. As I said, bombs do not--cannot--bring lasting peace. Let's put our hope for peace in a proper perspective.

The striving for peace can look a lot different than what we might think. 

I am reading Pope Francis' autobiography (HOPE) and in it there is a picture of him bending down and "kneeling before the leaders of South Sudan to beg for peace."

A genuine display of humility probably looks awkward and useless to a world that looks for hope in strength and destruction.  

What did G.K.Chesterton say?

"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."

We need to be patient and do the hard work of diplomacy, trying our best to turn things around, for the sake of all humanity, as lives are being lost.

Again, bombs will never bring, true long-lasting peace. They can't. They are always followed by more destruction, something we seriously cannot afford.

Pray for peace. 

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

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