River

Her riversong draws my soul ever longing to sit eternity listening to her wisdom flow.

amazing song..one of my all time favorites.

thoughts on a touchy subject

so , Osama Bin Laden has been killed..and americans are dancing in the streets celebrating...the same way Iraqi people were celebrating the deaths of american soldiers...by dancing in the streets. and i think about how we as americans reacted to their celebration...and wonder about the hypocrisy of it all. I understand that sometimes, when all else fails decisions have to be made ..necessary evils.. and having been privy to top secret info while in the military and working for the dept of state...i understand why Osama needed to be neutralized. what i don't understand is the celebration of death..any death.. it is not something to joyfully dance and sing about.. it is a somber solemn thing that needed to be done. I think of Martin Luther King's words ‎"I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."  I know that some people will not agree with what I am saying..and that is ok.. at the end of the day I have to be able to look into the eyes of my children..the greatest mirrors of my soul..and be ok with what i see reflected there. I have tried very hard to raise compassionate , intelligent, beings who will look for other routes other than violence ...but they also know that there may come a time when it is their only option.. and I hope that if it comes to that choice that they understand the seriousness and solemnity of that decision... that it is not something to be made lightly nor is it something to celebrate. Buddha says "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive" If we lose our humanity..then we are truly lost.. if we spiral into revenge and fear then there truly is no hope .  Will we learn anything from all this...Will we gain any understanding...I don't know the answer.. but my heart hopes that the world is listening, learning, and growing...and understanding that there is no future in violence. It ends badly for all involved. so if you need to feel grateful or happy that death has happened..then do it quietly ..with dignity..and with the understanding that there will be repercussions..and if we respond to them all with death..then eventually there will be no one left  . I personally am not rejoicing , I am not glad, I know it was necessary for the greater good...and I am saddened that our world is such that death is deemed necessary for peace....and I worry for the future..