Wisdom Quest Arts and Coaching

            Over my breakfast cereal, I glance through the paper. “Three soldiers killed by Taliban insurgents; eight Afghanistan contractors killed when bomb detonated….”

          My heart stops for a moment and my eyes tear up. My brother left days ago for Afghanistan and now these casualties seem more real. I place the paper down. I can no longer read this section.

          I take a deep breathe reflecting on President Obama’s recent speech in Egypt. Such powerful words – they resound a sense of ‘oneness with all.’ I feel united with my brethren. Do they feel it too? Will the words move like swift feet creating peaceful actions? I pray that it is true when Author, Edward Bulwer-Lytton coined, “The pen is mightier than the sword” in 1839.

           With the words come claims that we do not want permanent bases in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Though the fighting has displaced millions of people in Pakistan from their homes. Thus far approximately 20,000.00 people have been killed in Afghanistan and over 52,000.00 have been injured. These numbers are extremely conservative. You may visit the following website for current statistics: http://www.unknownnews.net/casualties.html

           The extremists in this region are not swayed by reason. They have a mindset to eradicate anyone from the United States or those who represent us. Although I disagree wholeheartedly with the policies and associated actions of the Taliban regime; our current efforts seem tantamount to the Romans’ sending Christians to face the Lions. The extremists know the land; and they bomb roving vehicles as if they are little boys (or girls) playing with Tonka toys. We may as well be sending our troops, contractors, and dear people whom we love, like my brother, to walk amongst land mines. They will live by the pure luck of where they place their feet.

       How many more precious lives are we willing to lose? I thought we might have learned some lessons from Iraq and Vietnam. History is doomed to repeat itself. The cost of freedom seems enormous. For are we really free?