Is it too much to ask for peace on Earth?
No matter which way one turns, it seems there are numerous global disputes, and most of these conflicts are a hair-trigger away from igniting the next world war.
As the parent of a son serving in the U.S. military, that is a situation I wish to avoid because America invariably would be drawn in.
I would prefer this Christmas, in fact the entire holiday season, to be characterized by joy and serenity across the planet.
You know, goodwill toward men, like the song says.
My father, an Army lieutenant colonel, used to say soldiers are the last people who want a war because they’re the first to have to go fight it.
From space, there are no boundaries drawn on the continents or the seas. The little lines dotting a map are political constructs arrived at by conflicting ideologies that only exist on paper.
From attacks on a police officers just doing their jobs to the slaughter of babies during a terrorist assault, the violence must stop.
So why can’t we get along? Is that really so hard? Why can’t we agree to disagree in most arguments, instead of raising our hands to one another?
A wise man once said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Think of the amount of bloodshed, tears and anguish we could avoid if we just followed that simple maxim, also known as the Golden Rule.
But we are humans, and we are quick to anger and slow to forgive.
There is nothing wrong about disagreeing with someone. At the same time, differences of opinion should not translate into slurs, humiliation, attacks on civil liberties or murder.
And even when we keep our disagreements peaceful, too many of us aren’t listening to the other side, instead spending brainpower thinking up our retort or response.
Perhaps that should be the New Year’s resolution all of us should work on: To learn to listen, to forgive and sometimes be willing to change our minds.
Easier said than done, of course. But worth a try. Our survival as a species may depend on embracing these concepts.
Agree? Disagree? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. We may run your comments as a letter to the editor, which we reserve the right to edit for length, taste and grammar.
Comment
Comments