31.5.10

Memorial Day: Ending Wars - Healing Lives …

Healing Humanity One Soul at a Time…

“As I approach the gates of heaven; St. Peter I will tell;
One more soldier reporting sir; I've served my time in hell.”
~ Mark Anthony Gresswell


By now, most of us know what Memorial Day is about… I wrote extensively on the subject on my Mirth and Motivation blog. I encourage you to check it out. I prefer to send prayers, blessings and healing to everyone on this Memorial Day because, even as we remember our troops abroad and those who never made it back alive, I find the exercise painfully sad.

As a Biafra war survivor, I don’t glorify war nor do I see anything “Happy” about it. On Memorial Day, we are reminded that war is, unequivocally, the lousiest option for settling disputes. In times of war, in war zones, there are only losers on both sides of the battlefield. While one side might claim victory, the loss of life and the deepening resentments that come from warring creates animosity and a spirit of revenge. War is a terrible thing and the scars are indelible.

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” ~ Joseph Campbell


Why do some in society hunger for war? Why do some resort to weapons of destruction to settle ancient scores that should have been buried with our ancestors? How can we ever imagine a world where our progeny will thrive and grow if our hearts are blackened from the soot of old firearms? With all our advancements in science and technology, why can’t we find ways to reach out to our aggressors and oppressors to negotiate peace settlements that uplift us all not negate one side? War is not the answer.

We are all victims of embellished war stories; mythical, nonsensical tales that painted rosy pictures of the brutality and unending nightmares of war. The haunting memories of the walking dead, the charred remains of once a friend, the disemboweled food hawker, the bludgeoned infant, are memories embedded in our psyche; torturing us, haunting us even as we gear up for another round in hell. When/How did we become such heartless beasts? How quickly we forget that war is ugly and maims the living as much as it does the dead.

“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”  ~ Benjamin Disraeli



War Lyrics ~ via Bob Marley

War Lyrics ~ via Bob Marley


Until the philosophy which hold one race superior
And another
Inferior
Is finally
And permanently
Discredited
And abandoned -
Everywhere is war -
Me say war.

That until there no longer
First class and second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes -
Me say war.

That until the basic human rights
Are equally guaranteed to all,
Without regard to race -
Dis a war.

That until that day
The dream of lasting peace,
World citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued,
But never attained -
Now everywhere is war – dis a war.

And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes
that hold our brothers in Angola,
In Mozambique,
South Africa
Sub-human bondage
Have been toppled,
Utterly destroyed -
Well, everywhere is war -
Me say war.

War in the east,
War in the west,
War up north,
War down south -
Dis a War - war - war
Rumours of war.
Dis a War - war - war
And until that day,
The African continent
Will not know peace,
We Africans will fight - we find it necessary -
And we know we shall win
As we are confident
In the victory

Of good over evil -
Good over evil, yeah!
Good over evil -
Good over evil, yeah!
Good over evil -
Good over evil, yeah! /fadeout/

“Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen, was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.” ~ Richard Watson Gilder


What we need is a peace offensive; a memorial to our past and a celebration to proclaim our recovery; our collective healing.


The 10 Commandments of Mother Earth via Humanity Healing.Org By Ernest Callenbach
I.                    Thou shall love and honor the earth for it blesses thy life and governs thy survival.
II.                 Thou shall keep each day sacred to the earth and celebrate the turning of its seasons.
III.               Thou shall not hold thyself above other living things nor drive them to extinction.
IV.              Thou shall give thanks for thy food, to the creatures and plants that nourish thee.
V.                 Thou shall educate thy offspring for multitudes of people are a blessing unto the Earth when we live in harmony.
VI.              Thou shall not kill, nor waste Earth’s riches upon weapons of war.
VII.            Thou shall not pursue profit at the Earth’s expense, but strive to restore its damaged majesty.
VIII.         Thou shall not hide from thyself or others the consequences of thy actions upon the Earth.
IX.              Thou shall not steal from future generations by impoverishing or poisoning the Earth.
X.                 Thou shall consume material goods in moderation so all may  share the Earth’s bounty

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.  ~ From a headstone in Ireland

If we can start to see honoring our own healing and healing the Earth as the peace initiative; as the preferred option, we can work to eradicate wars and then … perhaps… only then, will our children inherit a legacy of life without the possibility of self-annihilation on our plant earth.
Let’s start the journey of healing humanity; of healing each other, one step at a time.
Cheers,
E
What are your thoughts? Do you have family in a war zone? Have you survived a war? As always, your feedback is appreciated. Do Share! Thank you! 

PHOTO CREDITS:
All Photos ~ via My Google Images


Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank





5 comments:

  1. I honor you as a survivor. Thanks for your tributes. I love Marley, too...I wish more people were as in tune with Mother Earth and respectful of her gifts....blessings.....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Wonderful post about Memorial Day...

    Melanie
    www.tutubugblog.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you both for visiting my blog too!
    Cheers,
    Eliz

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal" ` this is so true. When I lost my father I thought time can heal the wound. But everything I think of him, there's this pain in my heart. I wish he's still here with us, if only I could turn back time.

    Mommy Maye
    www.momaye.com

    ReplyDelete
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