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A thought amidst egg nog and carols

A thought amidst egg nog and carols

Those of you that follow this blog know that, while I often celebrate the happy postive things that fill my life, I also muse about those things that concern me. Ironically, now - in the middle of the most joyous time of my year - I vacillate between that joy and the constant dull pain I feel as I watch the world around me -in particular, the madness happening in the Middle East.

I remember the moment that I watched the second jet hit the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. I was in a hotel room in Cedar City, Utah where I was taking a PTA-sponsored tour of Utah schools. As I sat on my bed watching the events unfold, I went through a myriad of feelings in the space of 15 or 20 minutes starting with a surreal fascination and curiousity followed by rage and intensity. But the feeling that has stuck with me almost continuously the last six years is one of determination to not just sit in the comfort of my house and watch the killing and hating through my peripheral vision. Its easy to do that with a smorgasbord of pop culture continually screaming for attention. I try not to let the din of Christmas commercialism cover up the crying happening daily in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and other turbulent regions.

I have to keep believing that all of us pushing and shoving for space on this planet really desire peace, love, and harmony more than war, hate, and disharmony. Surely - even the most radical extremist would prefer a nice home for his family, sufficient to eat, and just a bit extra to enjoy the simple things in life. The opium farming Taliban Afghani would rather just sell his beautiful flowers for decoration if he could make enough money. The bomb-toting Hamas Palestinian youth would rather strap on a book bag on his way to a higher education if it were available. Poverty and lack of education breed desperation and hatred. Weve seen it here in the US in the inner city for years. We shouldnt be surprised that the same formula equals a similar result in other places.

I remember thinking naively, after Osama Bin Laden announced his ownership of the 9/11 tragedy, "I want to go an talk to him - ask him why he hates us so much. I want to play music for him and infuse a bit of love into his otherwise hate-consumed world." I thought at that time that he just needed to get to know us and hed have a change of heart. I now feel that those on the extreme side of world conflict may be too immersed in their causes to listen to reason. However - the millions of others who are in the more sensible middle ground. They have become my focus now.

I am convinced that the answer to solving the MIddle East conflict, is NOT found at the end of a gun rifle but at the end of an out-stretched hand. Guns, bombs, and violence can only breed more of the same. That is why Im constantly confused at my countrys insistence on NOT talking with those who are against us. We cant bomb them into oblivion. Emerging from the rubble of Baghdad and Kabul will be stronger fighters even more incensed and determined to bring about our demise. Bushs "surge" is just poring gasoline on an already growing fire.

So - what do I plan on doing about this? I used to think that I had to do something cataclysmic ala Sean Penn and his trip to Baghdad, but I have come to a different realization. Change on a global stage can happen quite quickly when things are desemminated exponentially. So - peace will begin right here - in front of my computer, in my house, in my city and - if thats replicated in millions of other homes and places then - perhaps the hate will stop. I have to keep hoping. Hope keeps me going.

Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men.

Kurt

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