WWIII

Desensitized.

The world has become amazingly desensitized to destruction. 'Destruction? Destruction of what?' Ourselves. Society. Life. Respect for Life ...

Today an Indonesian tragedy hit the headlines:

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Clashes between Christians and Muslims in the city of Ambon, Indonesia have left at least 10 people dead and up to 100 injured, many with knife wounds ...

10 people died, and 100 were injured ... 110 people suffered outrightly. But think. Stop and think a little beyond the obvious ... think of their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, friends, spouses, children. All of these people suffered today. And for what? The headlines referred to it as 'a clash', 'religious fighting', 'Muslim-Christian gangs battle'--as if such titles could begin to serve the event justice. Ask their families. Look to their friends. Was this just another street skirmish in Indonesia? Is anything 'just another skirmish' if it involves suffering? God, could we actually have fallen this far? No, this isn't war among nations, or bombing in Madrid. This is even simpler than that ... but perhaps even more unsettling.

It stuns me ... terrifies me, to think of how easily the words 'death', 'war', 'killed', 'murder', all are tossed about like a leaf on the wind. i don't ask that you always know about the day's events across the globe, or even for you to pretend to understand--but i do ask for attention. Just know that the suffering exists--and don't turn your back on it. Awareness. Respect--for the lives of these people. For the lives of all people. It's not about the words in the newsprint, and it's not about the stories the words tell. It's about the lives they represent, and the pain from which they are created.

We're living in the midst of World War III. That's right ... i didn't mistype. You didn't misread--i said World War III. There's no war! Oh no, of course not ... except that in Iraq. Well, maybe the entire Middle East ... but wait, we're the ones who are 'at war' over there. And if you look beyond that so called war there, and out Your window--into Your streets, you have riots, battles, war between peoples and neighbors. War on a small scale, and undeclared, but war nonetheless. Society ... we live for ourselves. 'Society' is ignored ... bypassed ... overlooked ... and 'self' takes precedence. But Society itself teaches us this behaviour, demands this behaviour, all the while breeding more selfish desires. Desires which in turn breed war--among religions, countries, regions, castes, races ... all of it. The world is at war--it's us against the world. We're living smack dab in the middle of it, and no one seems to notice. It's as if we were in the eye of a hurricane ... completely calm and untouched by the whirring winds around us ... just waiting for it to shift just enough to destroy us next.

...

i came across a friend's online ramblings. After reading one entry in particular, i felt inclined to reply. Now i feel inclined to share, much of what he entered was extremely well composed. Due to its length, however, i will only include my response, which quotes him where necessary. i quoted him in italics. Whether i'm sharing it here for my benefit or Yours, i'm not certain ... maybe it's for all of us. Only time will tell, i suppose--

... i've come to wonder if it is that the young see illusions or that the old lose their vision? And i've come to suspect that it's a bit of both. People change from time to time, their Dreams change with them. And on occasion, their Dreams do become, as you aptly put it, jaded. They lose sight of what They believe, or realize They never really knew what they believed to begin with. Apathy--a frightening feeling. But it happens--when you least expect it. i've yet to discover why it happens, and perhaps never will ... and i don't much care for it either, but no--you're not alone in that one. Your situation is unique, though ... everyone's is. We are who we are because our experiences have tainted our Truths and Perceptions. Your experiences are unique to you, if for no other reason than YOU are the one who's living your Life. Nobody else can be alive for you; nor can you be alive for anybody else. ~E. E. Cummings As for this: Right now, though, there just doesn't seem to be much living involved in life. Life will return--You'll be able to feel again. It may take time, but Life will come for You. i'm waiting for it myself. But not only waiting ... watching. listening. praying. Keep dreaming. Keep asking yourself who You are, and what you want to be. Keep searching. Don't lose those stupid thoughts you indulge in before You fall asleep. These are the things that keep you human. Somewhere along the way, You'll rediscover Life, or it will rediscover You. out of the Darkness comes Light, like a flash—You think You can, You think You can. sometimes that is the problem. Dream, little darling, Dream. ~ You Never Know, DMB

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One last note, because i find it pressing. Find a quiet moment when you have some time to reflect, and read the article i've linked to below. i'm begging you ... read this, at least once. Then try to tell me we don't live in a selfish world:

Kashmir