Like many of you, I have recently read and watched more than I usually do developments around the world. Tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, nuclear power plant and contamination fears, the growing death toll from protests in Arab countries, the failed peace process in the Middle East, the killing of Osama bin Laden, and of course, our own political circus in Washington, Wisconsin and elsewhere.
Other than natural disasters, it’s all man-made, leading me to wonder again what are we pacifists to do — and think — about the endless controversies and violence that plague humankind? How do we keep our hearts in the right place? Where do we turn when so many celebrate doing serious damage to others?
My first response is often a feeling of alienation, even despair. Then, invariably, I turn to those who share a common understanding with me and seek to understand how and why violence and threats of violence are questions that continue to confront us every day.
Such as: When will we get out of Afghanistan, Iraq and, now, Libya? These wars have gone on much too long. We have lost far too many young military men and women, and too many civilians have died and are still dying. World War II only lasted five years. We have now been in Iraq for more than 10 years and many of our forces are still there. The Afghan war also seems endless, even though we have killed bin Laden. The Libyan intervention has created the seeds of more violence, and on all three of these wars we are spending a vast amount of money that should be spent on our domestic needs.
There are those who have called on our representatives to push for an end these wars. Somehow, just knowing there are sympathetic people out there who believe in some way as I do is enough. But we need far more Americans to say, “Enough!” We need to be heard. Otherwise, silence means consent.