U.S. troops posed with body parts of Afghan bombers(warning graphic photos at the link)

[Voice for Peace]

14. thanks for sharing your perspectives here

A human life ultimately is defined by the thoughts we think
(my belief) even more than deeds, and the measure of conscience
and compassion we live by. Nobody ever knows what another
person's experience has been. To stay on the safe side, I assume
it has already been hard enough for them and I don't need to
make it any harder.

In war, or other severely intensive life-threatening situations,
the human organism shuts down something fundamental inside.
The feeling self, and conscience, in those moments, are suspended.
The immediate need is survival: sharp action & quick choices.

You don't have the luxury to consider the other people who are
trying to kill you, to wonder if they have children, or if they ever get
sad, or if they believe in the war, or even if YOU believe in the war.
You don't get to know or even consider those things, because the
urge to survive is so powerful.

But back on land, that connection must be restored. It is our built-in
best friend, inside of us. If the connection isn't restored, the
repressed stuff has great power. People tend to become very
unhappy and it can manifest in many ways. Total shutdown
leads people to suicide and murder, madness, illness, megalomania.

And I personally believe that whatever we have tried to shut
away, hide from ourselves, it must be looked at in the light,
and the associated emotions must be felt. If there is grief or
regret, or anger -- these feelings must be released, or we
will always be haunted by them. This is kindness; our own
conscience is a friend, and a tool of healing, even when it's painful.

Somehow in life we are continually asked to look at ourselves,
examine our own errors, correct our path. And keep on going.
When it's too painful, I've found, a torrent of tears has a
way of soothing. Another built-in friend.