Bird Droppings June 10, 2025
Why is seeking peace so difficult?

Around the world, armies are moving as I write. There are missiles being aimed and tanks rolling. War is a profit-driven machine for industry, and sadly, it is more about money than ideology. I have always been against war and have always felt that there are other ways to solve issues.

“In this week of great destruction, we must each choose what road we are to walk and live. The road of destruction is war, it has always been so. The road of creation is deeper and more complicated; it has always involved forgiveness, love, light, prayer, and spirit. In these new millennia, we have a chance to change the way we see other beings to one of connectedness and unity. We have a chance to let go of the ancient ways of war and conflict, of who is right, of being better, of senseless killing. This week has thrown us back on the old model of the last millennia.” Michael Samuels, M.D., and Mary Rockwood Lane, PhD, Path of the Feather

I miss being in the Foxfire class during the summer, normally this time of year. Although in my current dissertation writing mode, writing, research, and reading are hours a day. However, there is something about spending 24 hours a day with other teachers discussing education and learning that is significant. Thinking back, during one moment of time between classes and meetings, I happened to be sitting in at an Ingles Store in North Georgia, which happened to have a Starbucks. Young gentlemen walked by with two peace symbols tattooed on their calves. It caught my attention and got me thinking back to several summers ago when I was driving up to this same spot to visit the Foxfire Museum, I watched seven people marching for peace in the small town of Clayton, Georgia. My writing today started with a few lines from a Navajo prophecy edited by Dr. Samuels and Rockwood. In my searching, reading, and writing, so often the contrast of peace versus war comes up, as do so many dualities in our world.

“The three hardest tasks in the world are neither physical feats nor intellectual achievements, but moral acts: to return love for hate, to include the excluded, and to say, ‘I was wrong’.” Sydney J. Harris

For many, Sydney J. Harris is simply an old forgotten columnist from bygone days when people happened to read hard copy. I frequently use quotes from his essays and columns. His words are powerful, and I thank a dear friend from nearly thirteen years ago for showing me his work. Often, I find articles he wrote from the sixties and seventies, and I wonder why I missed them then. I am reminded often that it was not time, as I refer to my Jungian philosophy and orientation. All of the pieces were not in place at that time for me to understand to recognize what it was he was saying. In my emails and communications, I often see misunderstanding and ignorance, including myself. I recall a friend writing from his heart, and others only could criticize and or turn away and not understand, so often not even reading the words.

“The two words ‘information’ and ‘communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is given out; communication is getting through.” Sydney J. Harris

“An idealist believes the short run doesn’t count. A cynic believes the long run doesn’t matter. A realist believes that what is done or left undone in the short run determines the long run.” Sydney J. Harris

Sitting here most mornings, it is so easy to formulate solutions and fantasize a world free from strife and turmoil, and as I write this morning, sitting at home in my writing area, having read the current news, talk of new troop deployments in Yemen which are hinted from Saudi Arabia my heart sinks. But then I walk away from my computer and wonder what it is we are trying to do in the world. Tomorrow morning a big sale at one of the local department stores, with the early bird sale masses of humanity will line up to get the best deals and gasoline will still be artificially high so our wonderful gas company’s profits can recoup several years of cheap gas and to bolster or hinder the economy, depending on whose view you take.

I often wonder who came up with thinking like that in any other business sooner or later someone would see the ridiculous, it has been nearly ten years that Exxon just about each quarter has the highest profits ever in one headline and on another gasoline is at its highest ever, such an interesting parallel we seem to miss. A good point, however, at least someone is thinking. With the high court decisions made this week and as our Supreme Court judges slowly age, a poll was taken as to what type of judge should replace any who should step down. Most now want a moderate, there are still a few wanting conservatives, and only about a quarter want a liberal. Somewhere, there was an extra three percent. I am assuming they were undecided.

“Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.” Sydney J. Harris

That simple reminder from Harris needs to come up every day. I am excited to be at home today with our son, his wife, and our grandbaby visiting from North Carolina. It is always good to wake up to a new morning and be able to water my herb garden. We each need to look at our pathway and see which direction we are going. Looking back at the first quote, are we choosing the path of destruction or creation, as the Navaho say? My dear friends, please keep all in harm’s way on your minds and in your hearts, and always give thanks, namaste.

My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,

Mitakuye Oyasin

(We are all related)

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