Open for discussion? Good.

Cause and effect, and certainly blame fits in with the rest. Not only in war but in love, no? Best not to blame or point fingers if you want to get along, but then doesn't it depend on what's at stake, whether is it sharing an ice cream cone or a border? It makes a difference. The higher the stakes the more serious the blame and finger pointing becomes. As for religion, it's a variation on the theme: I'm right, you're wrong, and I'll kill you to prove it. Not exactly charming. Politics is a bit of everything, but like religion it falls into the "I'm right, you're wrong" category. Despite all this, one can't just mind their own business. Things matter. Some things are worth fighting for. Yet, in our time, in this era, our battles are forced upon us, are unnecessary, are in one way or another power grabs, consuming innocents lives and serving the few. There are no noble wars. Some may disagree. Looking at it another way: there are no wars that serve their end better than a genuine dialog. Too many hot blooded young people ready to bleed for a cause, and their temper is so easily tapped into and abused by those that wield or seek power. Beyond all this, war seems to be a normal human condition. We can't live without it, it seems.

Food for thought. "I wonder . . . " too.
2011-06-07