THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022, WAR (FINISHED)

 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022 WAR (FINISHED)

I was in college in the late 1960s.  The Vietnam War was going on.  Protests on campus were big.

One of the protest songs on radio was “War” by Edwin Starr.  (Edited)

“Ooh, war. Has shattered many a-young man's dreams

Made him disabled, bitter, and mean

And life is much too short and precious

To spend fighting wars each day

War can't give life   It can only take it away

Oh, war!

It ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker!   Friend only to the undertaker

Ooh war, I despise    'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives

War means tears, to thousands of mother's eyes

When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives

I said, war   (What is it good for?)”

*****’

I was talking with a great friend last night (Hi Rita!!) about the concept of justified war.  We agreed that World War I - fighting about the death of Archduke Ferdinand - probably wasn’t, but fighting against Hilter, Mussolini, and Hirohito and the atrocities was justified.

To me, war is a cousin to hate.  War can be a product of indoctrination, propaganda, or rhetoric.   There are times when we can “hate” evil, hate what evil has crept into our society - and be justified, but it seems like we “hate” others - and often use labels - such as a “white, Christian, Republican, conservative, male”.

*****

Crazy as it seems, my mind is reflecting on Tom Sawyer’s painting of the fence by convincing his friends that it is a real treat to paint a fence.  Painting a fence doesn’t require a lot of finesse (asking Da Vinci or Van Gogh to paint a fence is inane).  You use broad strokes on a fence -with a big brush.  You paint over knotholes and rough surfaces.  

In World War II - ALL Germans were bad, ALL Japanese were bad.  The United States went as far as to place the Japanese in internment camps.

“Japanese internment camps were established during World War II by President Franklin D. Roosevelt through his Executive Order 9066. From 1942 to 1945, it was the policy of the U.S. government that people of Japanese descent, including U.S. citizens, would be incarcerated in isolated camps. Enacted in reaction to the Pearl Harbor attacks and the ensuing war, the incarceration of Japanese Americans is considered one of the most atrocious violations of American civil rights in the 20th century.” (Japanese Internment Camps: WWII, Life & Conditions - HISTORY)

Such hate continues - all Arabs are terrorists, all Jews are devious.  In the early American west, we said “The only good Indian is a dead Indian”.  

(Aside - it even continues on the sports scene.  I know University of Texas supporters who hate the University of Oklahoma - and visa versa; Texas vs. Texas A&M; Ohio State vs. Michigan).  

We use our large brush to “paint” ALL who disagree with us as ‘evil’.  All Democrats are evil and socialists; - and - all Republicans are evil and reactionaries.  All immigrants at the border want to take our jobs.  All XYZs are ignorant and should be destroyed. (Or - all LGBTQ+ people are evil, mentally incompetent, and should be destroyed as it is cancer to our society).

But, not all Germans were bad in World War II, not all Vietnamese were evil in the Vietnam war, not all Arabs are terrorists, and not all cops / and not all blacks are bad.

(oops - I’m preaching again - LOVE WINS.  Turn the other cheek.  If somebody asks you to go a mile, go a second mile with them. Love your enemy.  Do good to those who would harm you.  Give a drink of water to the thirsty, give food to the hungry, welcome the widow or orphan.)

Yes, crazy Pollyanna Karen is saying that LOVE does WIN.  When I stand before God and he asks “Did you love your neighbor as yourself?” can I say (honestly) “yes”?  (I hope so).

It is a tough line to walk - how to love your enemy but hate their actions.  How can I love the abusive husband who beats his wife and children, but still expect him to stop the beatings?  How can I stop a bully from being a bully?  Show him, love?

*********

I feel as the colloquial expression goes that “I am beating a dead horse”.  (And, that I am definitely out of touch with reality - and I probably am).

*****

Moving on tomorrow - Friday some religious thoughts, Saturday story (finishing last week's story about a Granny Basketball player), and Sunday Funday.

Let there be peace on earth,  And let it begin with me

Let there be peace on earth, The peace that was meant to be

With God as our Father, Brothers all are we

Let me walk with my brother In perfect harmony

Let peace begin with me Let this be the moment now

With every step, I take Let this be my solemn vow

To take each moment And live each moment

In peace eternally  Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me

Karen

February 3, 2022