A proposal to honor those in pain

Cowboy Kahlil writes

Is our society so reduced in its reverence for humanity that some will dance in the streets and shoot off fireworks at the death of [Saddam] Hossein and his family, overlooking the collateral damage (again)?
And now, with the Al Jazeerah guy killed, and one wounded, it puts all Western journalists at risk, now and in the future. We have POWs at risk yet, too. For all we know, the war's not over.
And when the war does end, it does not end for some. I worked the streets with homeless vets from several wars and know well the nightmares that some of them carry for years after, perhaps forever. Do you think the guys who took out that fleeing Iraqi family a few days ago will be dancing? Not a chance.
A sigh of relief makes more sense. Perhaps some donations to the aid organizations who will patch and repair the human damage. The wounds, both physical and mental, will linger in many of the civilians, too. Can't we restore some decency to our behavior, some sign of deep reverence for all lives?
I'd like to propose something else to bloggers who respect life, I don't care what your political persuasion. For the innocent of Iraq, for the journalists who've died, for all the dead soldiers, I propose that we make Thursday a day of silence in the blogosphere. No posts. No comments. Perhaps a memorial message to whoever you wish, posted as a final post the night before.
There are thousands hurting, thousands mourning and thousands still at risk. Can't we demonstrate something else important to the world about us besides our capacity to war well?

I think this is the only thing we can do. In a world that politicians cheat their citizens for their overambitions and kill innocent people for factitious democracy and freedom!

Where is the justice of political power if it executes the murderer and jails the plunderer, and then itself marches upon neighboring lands, killing thousands and pillaging the very hills?~Kahlil Gibran

(posted by Iman)

Posted:Tuesday, April 08, 2003 |