EX . HIL . A . RATE = To make cheerful.
Today on CNN, I heard Kira Phillips interviewing an Air Force Special Forces Veteran. She asked him, "When you hit one of those key targets, isn't it exhilarating!?!?! --- her voice lifted and excited as she waited for the answer. Somberly, the soldier responded quietly, saying something like, "Well, yes, you are glad to accomplish the mission, but there is always the HUMAN element that weighs on you. In other words, EXHILARATED wasn't quite the word to describe the act of bombing and killing people.
At that time, I hadn't seen the photos of Al-Zarqawi dead that are now being broadcast in every newscast and on the Internet, with and without the bloody, swollen face of death. When I heard the exchange between Kira and the soldier, even without a photo, I felt a tug on my own conscience. How have we evolved to a place where we find CHEER or JOY in the killing of another HUMAN LIFE even if he has earned the label of our ENEMY? What does it say about us when we are gleeful about it?
There was a time when I didn't feel anything like I did today. I didn't care. I didn't notice. I didn't think. I didn't take it in. I've been studying and growing too much to ignore and dismiss the face of death --- anyone's face of death ---- funny how in the pictures today the dead face seemed like a mirror --- a human face reflecting back to mine, only lifeless.
I know Al-Zarqawi was not a kind man and killed many, but what does say about our humanity when we also kill with our bombs, with our inattention, with our lives to busy to notice one another's distress. Tonight, I heard Mr. Berg, whose son was beheaded by Al-Zarqawi. He said, "Killing diminishes all of us." For a few moments today, I knew what he meant. I felt diminished as a person looking at the photos of the lifeless man. Why was it his face that caught my attention? Perhaps, it is because it is "in our face" today right up close --- a symbol of our times.
The great wisdom traditions also charge us with a different responsibility. Funny, how those who call themselves Christian forget that it was Jesus who said, "...I tell you who hear me, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." --- Luke 6:27 This seems pretty clear.
Buddha didn't mince words either. βWhat is evil? Killing is evil, lying is evil, slandering is evil, abuse is evil, gossip is evil: envy is evil, hatred is evil, to cling to false doctrine is evil; all these things are evil. And what is the root of evil? Desire is the root of evil, illusion is the root of evil.β
I also got a glimpse of deeper meaning from what Gandhi tried to convey --- βThe law of an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.β I felt blind and sad with the mirror reflecting on our collective humanity, lost in a cycle of violence and human destruction.
Oh, you say all of this is "old stuff" --- well, I feel more willing to share it today, after reading an article sent to me by Dr. Bruce Lloyd, Professor of Strategic Management, London South Bank University and I quote, "Wisdom is knowledge with a long (if not timeless) shelf-life...". So I leave you to ponder a bit more WISDOM:
If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.
--- Confucius (551-479 BC)
What did you see and feel TODAY?
Debbe
Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center
Al-Zarqawi was a MONSTER. Responsible for beheading innocent people for the sake of his own ego and dimented cause. It was indeed a good day for the world to be rid of such a callous psychopath. Justice was served.
Posted by: Angie | June 21, 2006 at 07:16 AM
Angie,
You are right. My question is how many innocent lives have been lost by our actions and deeds? Was justice served in these cases? This is hard to reconcile, which killing is just and which is not, yes?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts to make us all think further.
Debbe
Posted by: Debbe | July 04, 2006 at 09:43 AM