It has been forgotten

Not the war. Not the many wars. Not even the deaths. Deaths of those 'on our side' are remembered as grievances. As something to be avenged. But killing only produces others who might seek vengeance. 

What has been forgotten is that killing others solves nothing. Makes no one feel safer. Gives no true satisfaction. Produces others who want their vengeance. And only those who gain wealth and power and prestigeout of war believe that all that killing was justifiable, worthwhile, and productive of some 'good'. 

I am of a charmed generation. A generation where we protested against nuclear weapons. Against the war in Viet Nam. And we fooled ourselves that we had made the world a safer place for our children and our moko puna (grandchildren).

We were foolish because enough people voted for a party which has a non-negotiable proposal to question Te Tiriti Waitangi, careless of the conflict that will engender, that they will have the opportunity to pursue that in the next Parliament.

We were foolish to believe that the mega wealthy could be encouraged to forego extreme wealth for the benefit of the majority, and especially the needy. Instead they sequester and/or waste the finite resources the once bountiful Earth provides.

The world has forgotten the messages of peacefulness given by Gandhi, and by Martin Luther King, and (in Aotearoa) by the people of Parihaka.

Their messages were one; we are all one. Religions share in their different ways of expression, the fundamental rule of treating others as we would they treat us. That this has been forgotten makes me feel like weeping.

Before seeing this I had taken a walk in Te Atatu, and the extra is a bokeh photo. (Added 12 November)