For me, it's important to stop and reflect on Memorial Day about all the men and women who died in war for the sake of the freedoms I enjoy. Sadly, I think you're right about war being part of the human condition.
We, humans, have been fighting over something, rights to a cave, power, money, religion, etc., and it will continue unfortunately. Passing on love and understanding is all we can do.
I'm not sure war, as in picking up a gun and shooting someone, is part of the human connection, but fighting certainly is. The emotions that lead to fighting--anger, frustration, envy, etc.--are universal, but there are ways to fight that don't involve destruction, such as debates, sports competition, etc. If we as a species can evolve enough intellectually that we respect each other even through anger, fear, etc., perhaps we can fight without bombs and death. Also, thanks for mentioning me. :)
Have you ever read “At Hell’s Gate” by Claude Anshin Thomas? I think of his war as mine also, or at least my generation’ s (Vietnam). Without spoiling it too much, he suffered for years with PTSD and its attendant disorders of alcoholism and drug use from which he was finally able to emerge through Thich Nat Han and his conversion to Buddhism, eventually becoming a monk. The book was published twenty years ago but it still resonates with me. I re-read it every few years to in some way remind me of what I was and still am.
I loathe war. I protested Vietnam, but not the soldiers who went there. My lottery number was 3, being a female I did not get called, but made me think of what I would have done as a male.
For me, it's important to stop and reflect on Memorial Day about all the men and women who died in war for the sake of the freedoms I enjoy. Sadly, I think you're right about war being part of the human condition.
We, humans, have been fighting over something, rights to a cave, power, money, religion, etc., and it will continue unfortunately. Passing on love and understanding is all we can do.
Exactly.
I'm not sure war, as in picking up a gun and shooting someone, is part of the human connection, but fighting certainly is. The emotions that lead to fighting--anger, frustration, envy, etc.--are universal, but there are ways to fight that don't involve destruction, such as debates, sports competition, etc. If we as a species can evolve enough intellectually that we respect each other even through anger, fear, etc., perhaps we can fight without bombs and death. Also, thanks for mentioning me. :)
Have you ever read “At Hell’s Gate” by Claude Anshin Thomas? I think of his war as mine also, or at least my generation’ s (Vietnam). Without spoiling it too much, he suffered for years with PTSD and its attendant disorders of alcoholism and drug use from which he was finally able to emerge through Thich Nat Han and his conversion to Buddhism, eventually becoming a monk. The book was published twenty years ago but it still resonates with me. I re-read it every few years to in some way remind me of what I was and still am.
I loathe war. I protested Vietnam, but not the soldiers who went there. My lottery number was 3, being a female I did not get called, but made me think of what I would have done as a male.