Opinions and beliefs set aside, political leanings not part of it, being human, looking at this, from exactly that – a human view, this for me is what the graphic above portrays. A photograph, taken one warm May evening, in Laconia, New Hampshire, of the Harvest moon’s reflection upon Lake Winnipesaukee.

In the Abenaki language, Winnipesaukee means lake around the islands, some say it means “smile of the Great Spirit” and while this may not be factual, I am sure that the Great Spirit does indeed smile upon this beautiful place, just as I believe the Great Spirit smiles upon all of us.

So, from a human perspective? As all of you, I support our men and women in Iraq. Whether I agree with the policies or not, I pray everyday for their safe return and for those who are missing, that they not suffer and for those who have passed, that their journey be swift.

I pray for the Fathers who will never hold their babies in their arms again, or in some cases, will never see them, at least not in this life. I pray for the young Hopi wife and mother, who has yet to be found – missing in action, status unknown – I guess the military terminology may be.

So many suffering – war has no humanity. But does it?

Despite the overwhelming horrors our men and women in the military see, knowing that they may face the most difficult decision in their lives, to take another human life, I watched and cried, as I saw a young US serviceman speaking with a reporter as our troops provided humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people. The reporter asked this young soldier how he felt, but he couldn’t speak at first. His eyes filled with tears and try as he might, to be a strong, tough soldier, his humanity showed through. Young children were running about, many carrying large containers of water our troops had brought in, and I’m sure this young soldier thought of his own children, as he wept.

Being human…in spite of the rhetoric we see on the television news, or read in the papers, of the hatred displayed by the enemy, who would kill and have killed their own without compulsion, the people caught in-between the innocent, who have no say, are grateful for the warriors who come, bringing aid…even something we take for granted, water to drink.

The warriors – being human – some like this young soldier, who despite war and hate and loss of life, has not lost his humanity.

None of us want war…those of who have not lost our humanity, our respect for life and freedom our desire for a free world in which all people can live in peace and in plenty without hunger or pain or war ever again.

So, in spite of how I feel – how you may feel – politically, whether for or against the war, most of all, we all must remember not to lose our humanity.

Life is a precious gift…and as I see a man holding a new life, it gives me hope that humanity will always be a part of us as humans – that life will be better – that we will all be safe and free from hunger and harm.

An ideal? Yes, I suppose so. But as human beings, sharing the same earth, this must be our goal for survival for the generations to come.

I may not live to see it – but I pray for a world that someday, will be like this.

And yes, I pray for our men and women, our troops – and for the innocent civilians in this war, and I pray most of all for an end to this war in Iraq and that we will never again have to engage in any wars.

Not unlike most of you. We are not all that different and while I may not agree with the ways some take to protest war, who say they want peace, this is all I want and I know, it has to be, what you want too.

nv wa do hi ya da – Peace

Evening Rain
March 29, 2003
1:04 am. EST