The War On War

Everything seems trivial when we are hearing about tragedy in other parts of the world. And we ourselves, if we live in a peaceful time and place, are only here because of wars won and lost in our own part of the world.

Too much suffering and pain, in the past, and still today.

It’s always inconceivable to understand why humans keep returning to these same blood stained fields. But despite the ominous signs of the times, I’m optimistic for the long term. I think we will learn eventually.

In the meantime, the course of action for those of us who are lucky to live in a relatively easy place…the main thing that most of us can do to stand in solidarity with those who suffer…is to make sure that the connections, friendships, and communities that we are part of become stronger. And that as well as becoming stronger, they look outwards, beyond borders, and welcome in strangers and strugglers, refugees and wanderers. We can’t afford to be insular.

Because the time to build all of these connections is not when war comes. It is when we are fortunate enough to have peace.

It may partly be the bloodlust and greed of power hungry despots that leads us so often to war and conflict. But it is complacency, and the developed habit of turning a blind eye, by us, that allows it to happen in the first place.

A kind word or action, taking a stand against injustice, or building something that benefits more than ourselves, today, here, might not seem to be of much benefit to people who are suffering thousands of miles away right now. But I would suggest it is our primary duty, in the face of a general sense of powerless-ness, to take advantage of the privilege we enjoy, while we are free to do so.

We have more power to change the future than we think. And we owe it to those are suffering tragically today from past neglect towards Ukraine, to do so.

War might be a present reality. But it isn’t inevitable.