Blessed Are the Peacemakers

I want to call attention to the impassioned plea of Lorelei Kelly in today's Huffington Post, titled "Israel,Stop! Just. Stop."

She writes: "Yes the Hamas leaders are crappy and pathetic. Yes they risk their own civilians. That is not at issue. But these Israeli leaders are pathetic, too, so desperate to look tough. So concerted in their effort to spin the news-cycles of the world to their script. 'Airpower' is another one of those words that needs to go on the vocabulary scrap heap. Why any of us ever believed that bombing terrified civilians would somehow inspire them to overthrow their horrid leaders is beyond me. And why any government thinks that killing lots of civilians on the side where the leaders use civilians as human shields will somehow be a dealbreaker has got to be the new definition of insanity. If the leaders are insufferable, work with others, like 'these folks' [i.e. The OneVoice Movement, an international mainstream grassroots movement with over 640,000 signatories in roughly equal numbers both in Israel and in Palestine, and 1,800 highly-trained youth leaders. It aims to amplify the voice of the overwhelming but heretofore silent majority of moderates who wish for peace and prosperity, empowering them to demand accountability from elected representatives and work toward a two-state solution guaranteeing an end to occupation and violence, and a viable, independent Palestinian state at peace with Israel.]

It seems that most of my life, just about every year around Xmas and New Year's there's a flare-up between Israel and the Arabs, making a joke of the refrain, "Peace on earth, good will to men..."

A Good Xmas: Thanks, HP

Thanks for a wonderful Christmas this year, to family and friends, and to HP. John, Cheryl, Natalie, Jerry, David, Brian, Suzy, Jacob, Wayne, Tracy, Beejay, Angela, and Maggie were all here to visit with Rosie and me in the last few days and we had a good time of it. My kids had their traveling problems but they also had traveling mercies in spite of ice and fog and delays and impeded progress. Natalie and Jerry and John and Cheryl stayed at the Country Hearth Inn here, which afforded comfort. We had enormous quantities of food. We spent Xmas Eve with Auntie and her brood. I'm happy to have seen my loved ones. Missed Amanda but plan on visiting her in Shy after the first of the year as soon's I get up there. Thanks again and Hap-Hap-Happy New Year, all you good people. Next big event for celebration occurs on January 20, 2009!