~ Albert Einstein
The example I tried to use today in explaining my point of view to a former naval officer who is eager to fight - someone, anyone - is that there has to be balance and peace for any lasting impact to come from our actions. If a person doesn't take care of themselves, has a sniffle but ignores it, they develop an illness yet keep going and do nothing about it, when they walk into the ER with full blown sepsis, they have to endure a full blown assault on their bodies to *try* to save their life.
Doesn't make sense though, does it? Yet that's the hard job - the education, proper food, negotiation and compromises to help the people - and the only way to fight this is to look at the core problems and work to solve them. It's not easy, it takes time, and it's not dramatic nor "news worthy". I'm not saying to throw away the antibiotic, but the focus must be on prevention to be effective in the long term.
My empathy and compassion are for all people - every where and in all circumstances - yes, I understand the feelings of rage, I feel them too - but I also know that if I can feel rage, so can "the enemy" - if people are brave and fight back, so does the other side. We must take our feelings and transform hate and anger into actions that will actually solve the problems that cause violence - to help those who are suffering.
