Once again the media-drenched world waits. Will bombs be dropped on yet another city and country? Will more members of humanity’s family be maimed and killed? Will more of the wealth of the world be diverted from human services (read that health, children, elderly, education) and instead spent on ever more horrific armaments? Or will this juncture in human history prove to be the turning point toward understanding? Will nations finally find a way to cooperate? Will the cries of mothers and children at long last be heard in the halls of governing bodies around the world? We wait.

The time has come for the mass of humanity to eschew war and for citizens in all climes to make their voices heard in this regard! Those of us who lived through the October Cuban Missile Crisis of 40 years ago know what the brink of world destruction looks and feels like.

Living for days with the realization that it might be the last for you, your loved ones, and the bulk of living creatures on this planet, gives one pause when, once again, a “super power” is ready to use its might to alter the course of history. There must be ways of solving international, as well as domestic situations, other than through violence! We, as a wise species that knows it is wise, Homo Sapien Sapien, have the ability to grow out of the adolescent, egomaniacal knee jerk reaction to every situation that dictates resorting to violence as a solution.

The world has been replete with outspoken individuals who have pleaded with all of us to put aside violence and invite arbitration, mediation, moderation, compromise, and negotiation at the very least. To go further they have advocated tolerance, forgiveness, forbearance, acceptance, and understanding. We seem to be so quick to judge and condemn others without looking deeply into their hearts and minds. Certainly, the acts of terrorism must be stopped. But, hearts and minds are where terrorism lives. Death and destruction by terrorists are only the outward signs of despair and hopelessness. Bombs cannot find terrorism, no matter how many or on whom they are dropped.

So, where does this leave us? Being blessed with the good fortune to live in a country governed be representatives of the citizenry, we have an opportunity to inform them of our wishes and preferences. And this is my plea. That you use every avenue available to contact your representatives to the governing bodies of this country and let them know how you feel regarding the seemingly imminent violence to be visited on the Iraqi people.

Jack Tingstad

Coupeville

To leave a comment, you will need to register an account with our site (or use your Facebook login).

We'll be gathering feedback on this process, so please give the new features a try and let us know how we can improve.