War Through the Eyes of a Pacifist

This article was written in the late autumn of 2001 but I have held off its publication until now. I have had many requests to express my thoughts on America's new war as it affects spiritual and emotional health, but I am as lost for answers as are my friends. Here is my attempt at coming to terms with yet another war, another assault on innocent children, another assault on a fragile environment. I have never agonized over an article as I have over this one. I have avoided the topic for as long as I could. There are a myriad of people who share my opinions. Many of them have told me that they are afraid to say so. Someone has to stand up for our convictions, so I am preparing myself for a loss of readers and friends. I must speak for what I believe to be right if for no other reason than to encourage my American friends who cannot speak for fear of reprisal from their neighbors. As a matter of fact, I have already received email rebuttals to this article even though it has not been published, but I have received far more encouragement from like-minded readers.

Another War

September 11, 2001. Terror in America. I was not shocked. I grew up in perilous times. Terror was an integral part of my childhood. Never did I deceive myself into thinking that America would be spared from similar events, but I had been hoping that they would not occur during my lifetime. My parents brought their children to North America in order to get as far away from strife as possible. Whenever the topic of another war came up, I would say, "I hope that the first bomb kills me." I have not changed my mind. Don't get me wrong. I am not going to commit suicide, but neither do I want to face a second time what I experienced as a child. Whether it was premonition or reasoning I may never know, but I was waiting for a serious attack on the United States when, in the summer of 2001, the American delegation walked out of the peace talks in Europe. It was therefore not the inevitable September 11 attack which shocked me. It was America's reaction to it which pulled the rug out from under my feet. I cannot understand how any intelligent thinking being can even entertain the thought that more terror would avenge the terror already perpetrated.
The copyright of the article War Through the Eyes of a Pacifist in Natural Health is owned by Traute Klein, biogardener. Permission to republish War Through the Eyes of a Pacifist in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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