This piece may be disturbing to read. I found it very disturbing to write…
The heat of anger in the world rises faster than global warming.
PAST vs FUTURE: THE WAR INTENSIFIES
In the birthplace of Western religion; a brutal attack on civilization
In this ongoing global war between past and future; barbarians and civilization; a major flareup in the Middle East follows an ongoing trail threatening global civilization. For those living in nations dominated by Western religion it is painfully emotional and, with extreme brutality, it has an effect on all humanity. As tempers flare on all sides the list of victims accelerates in an already brutalized world.
Perspective
A second generation American Jew born in the wake of the holocaust, stories of human barbarism and suffering were embedded in my early consciousness. Always attempting a rational perspective, I allow my prejudices displayed only in relation to falsehoods and lack of reason.
I love America but critical of much history, policies and politics. I love Israel but very disturbed by its turn to the extreme right. Neither has been living up to their promises of creation.
The Israel Hamas War began shortly after posting The Universe Within. Considering adding it to the saga of growing absurdity that has afflicted humanity through recent decades, I felt the emotional impact might minimize the original content. Since events follow along the path described in prior work however, there is a need to attempt a perspective. Hopefully those who read this will get the point. I understand however, that the intensity of emotions might cause some to take offense.
Background
This is a scenario with no good guys; no winners; only victims. From the creation of the State of Israel, there had been brutal invasions and singular attacks on the state and the Jewish people. Under Muslim Ottoman rule for centuries, as a result of World War I Arabs were brought under the rule of the Christian West. With independence, there was great resentment of a Western state occupying a land they considered theirs; a Crusader state ceded to Jews, a minimalized people in both Muslim and Christian societies.
Through my lifetime, I have witnessed huge changes in both Arab and Israeli societies. Governments of most Arab states today seek the benefits of partnership within the greater political/economic world. Many have openly accepted Israel as fact; a potentially beneficial partner; while others are leaning in that direction. It’s only that spark of the past; of radical fundamentalism; still committed to terrorism to eradicate the Jewish State.
In Israel, social and political changes have altered direction; not for the better. The Israel of David Ben Gurion was eager to achieve peace with neighbors. Through generations, the state has turned drastically to the right. Long time leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, in the mold of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, grasps for power at any cost, including that of Israeli democracy and military preparedness.
Atrocities against humanity
As a people, the greatest victims in this epic have been the Palestinians. Arab nations fighting for a cause in the past disregarded their needs. Never having viable leadership, they were left to suffer exploitation and neglect. Those who took up the radical cause turned many in the world against them. And with Israel’s march to the right, land that should have been under their sovereignty is being handed to those Israelis who tend to view their Arab neighbors with disdain.
Both sides have needlessly shed blood through the years. Today, throughout the world, lessons of the holocaust have been fading and antisemitism growing. Within the current setting Jews are feeling the hate borne from the universal anger dominating humanity today.
This is a situation that challenges sanity, sickening the minds of all rational people. Surely Hamas and other brutal remnants of the past must be eliminated!!! But the expense to humanity is exceptionally high. Surely, civilians must be protected!!! But in this most brutal of wars, beyond the ruthlessness in Ukraine, solutions are grim.
Battle for the future
Another relic of past hate and savagery rising to extinguish hope for a brighter future; the most intense yet; in the birthplace of Western religion. While Ukraine fights on behalf of democratic principles, the war in the Middle East fights one of human morality where none can exist on its battlefield.
Governments of most Arab nations are stepping back to let Israel take care of their dirty laundry while people on both sides are overcome by anger over the brutality against civilization.
Hope for a positive solution but there will never be a happy ending to this episode in the saga of humanity.
TOMORROW?
In a truly civilized society there is no place for violence.
Throughout the history of humanity many civilizations have come and gone, most leaving their mark on those who followed. This is the first time the entire world is connected and the first civilization reliant on science and technology. It has been a long twisting, bumpy road to get where we are today but we’re still a distance from a global society with a value system that encompasses all peoples and the planet on which we live.
We appear to be at a crossroad where the barbarism of the past is rising to block the road to a positive tomorrow. It’s a revolution that the future must win but as crises arise and sins of the past continue to haunt us, it is an exceedingly difficult road ahead.
And within this chaotic environment, the results of climate change must be rationally addressed!
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