Whoever and wherever you are I grieve with you.
I read the New York Times online every morning. This morning I read the article “Man Down: When One Bullet Alters Everything,” an account by Damien Cave of a street fight in Baghdad and the death of a young soldier. I wept as I read it. There was no information about the family of the young man who was killed. He was 27 years old. He may have been married. He may have been a father. He is someone’s son. Are there brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins? How many friends are there? How many are grieving the death of this young man? My heart grieves with them. And I wonder yet once again. Why are we fighting this war? Why are we sending our sons and daughters, our children, our grandchildren to fight and die?
We are all going to die. Why do we hasten our deaths by fighting wars?
Why do we accept that it is OK to send other people’s children to war? Yes, they volunteer to serve their country. It is their duty. Yes. But it is our duty to not recklessly place them in harm’s way by sending them into battles that perhaps we shouldn’t be fighting.
We cannot evade responsibility by blaming our government without blaming ourselves as well. In a democracy we elect our leaders. If they are not acting in our best interests then it is our responsibility to hold them accountable. Silence and failure to act gives consent. We are all responsible for our current state of affairs.
What if it were your child?
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. [Hymn]
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Sarah, your words about aging are wise, inspiring and uplifting -- you help me realize how lucky I am to be in my 60s. I have learned a few things and had a wonderful ride, which is, I hope, far from over. Now your words on peace make me realize how we have allowed our young to be sacrificed for something most of us do not support. No wonder you shed tears over this young man's senseless death. He will not have a chance to taste life's sweetness over the years. Every day I recite John Lennon's words, "Give peace a chance." You give me hope that we are not powerless to do this.
ReplyDeleteI greatly appreciate your leaving a comment. It encourages me to continue writing. Blogging is an interesting experience. I enjoy the writing but then curiously feel hesitant to publish my thoughts. It is a good discipline so I plan to continue. I hope that you keep reading. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI think blogging is good practice for letting people read and respond to your writing and learning there are more people encouraging than discouraging. You are wonderfully prolific and coherent both, and I salute you!
Pru