Life At Its Extremes
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (26209)
Singapore
October 18, 2023 9:29am CST
We always seek an oasis of peace, but it is a futile daily struggle for a few.
The headlines sear through our consciences. Innocents, including children, are paying the price for no fault. Wars are like that. Humans are digits, soon forgotten, but the hurts of their families will live all their lives. Soon, a new chapter would be written, and fresh challenges and dynamics put the horrors on the back burner.
The helplessness of ordinary folks is palpable. They are forced to accept the bitter reality of wars and death as par for the course. They hope against hope their leaders will find a way out of the mayhem, but it proves too late.
Is it all inevitable to run its course right through our history? Will history repeat itself?
I feel a sense of despair and cannot even watch the news of wickedness.
Charles Dickens’s words in Tale of Two Cities come to mind.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way–in short, the period was so far like the present period.”
Yes, history repeats itself as our deeds are inspired by non-love.
Image: War and Destruction from Pixabay free images
13 people like this
11 responses
@Beestring (13343)
• Hong Kong
18 Oct
Indeed, history repeats itself. War has never stopped.
3 people like this
@Beestring (13343)
• Hong Kong
18 Oct
@Shiva49 The world is in danger. The Russian-Ukraine has been going on for a long time. Now, the crisis in the Middle East, and there is ongoing tension in the Asia Pacific.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
18 Oct
@Beestring The danger is in fuelling the flames of war instead of finding solutions with an approach of give and take.
Things can go out of control in a jiffy.
3 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
19 Oct
They are fighting for something but is it worth finding for that something at the cost of millions of deaths? They need to ask and answer that question.
3 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
19 Oct
@Shiva49 War is bad and countries should now think of getting away from it.
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86776)
• United States
18 Oct
You have stated this Shvia so eloquently and truthfully.
Like you, I turn away from the screens and the news, too horrifying, completely disturbing and unsettling.
The worldwide ripple is happening where people are shocked.
Yes that was very apt the Charles Dickens lines..I wonder why he refrained from using the word hell.
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86776)
• United States
19 Oct
@Shiva49 Yes I agree, every life is sacred Shiva.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
19 Oct
Thanks Ocean Tiara. Leaders seem to think deaths cannot be avoided.
I saw how much the babies were suffering and it is abominable cruelty.
And to think those who are victims are just as human as we are.
Are not all lives sacred? Humanity should prevail at all times.
2 people like this
@KarenAnne (257)
• United Kingdom
18 Oct
History repeats itself and always the innocent get hurt because those with power are paranoid about losing it.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (170164)
• United States
1 Dec
Wise and descriptive words of the times we live in.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51532)
• Philippines
20 Jan
I hope i would still be alive and no war in my door step. But if that happens maybe I will choose to fight than run and become a refugee. Im not trying to be brave but this is my home.
@innertalks (21030)
• Australia
18 Oct
The term ordinary folk is sometimes an apt one to use, but....
Is there really anything such as an ordinary person?
Each life is valuable in its own right, and should not be overshadowed and cowled away by shadows of war being placed upon them by their wicked leaders.
Good folk have to make the best of it in a bad world, and do their best at the same time, to vote in good people, and to remove as many of the bad as they can.
War, in a lot of ways, is a cleanser, pushing people into action, where they would not usually be pushed.
War must be serving some type of a purpose, for the overall passage of the world, otherwise, surely, it would not be happening, as in the long run, all must be somehow a part of the overall plan of God's for the world.
@innertalks (21030)
• Australia
20 Oct
@Shiva49 War is always about bad people trying to win over good people.
The innocent, good, and bad, suffer at the hands of the bad leaders.
War allows the bad to fester, and the good to wake up to themselves, but the world needs to embrace peace not war, and it is the hardest lesson for all to learn.
The evil storms of war affect all, good, and bad alike, but, the good do need to stand up, and try to replace evil leaders, with good leaders.
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
20 Oct
@innertalks Another issue the good have to grapple with is religious fanaticism.
Wars take on religious color and a few think they are serving God by killing others who follow a different faith.
Humanity should prevail but for that, we need to have a broader vision.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26209)
• Singapore
19 Oct
The issue with all wars is the innocent suffer most.
Most have no real voice even in a democracy where the machinations of the vested interests prevail.
Instead of using all channels in place to prevent wars, our leaders seem to stoke the fires even at both ends. It looks like getting rid of arms that are getting outdated. Indirectly, a few benefit from wars and conflicts.
Our creator may want us to learn the lessons but the few who have no belief in God set the agenda and drag others to their misery and doom.
1 person likes this
