Jun. 23, 2003 - 21:31 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

For Thee

For Thee

This is a time when my poor sodden mind keeps slogging along trying to make sense of this world.

Seems to me we have bought into another confusion of death and dismemberment. We are in the Mid-east, supposedly victorious. Yet the ambushing and sniping causes the killing of more and more of our men and women in service. While in yet another part of the Mid-east there are two sides, both unwilling to compromise - vowing to not give an inch and take whatever they can whenever - no peace but the complete destruction of the other side is vowed. I wonder what the purpose is of the machinery of giving arms and ammunition to poor folk who are poverty stricken enough as it is ? What has that ominous, mystical supposedly upper hierarchy come up which makes them think that supplying arms and ammo to Palestinians and friends will accomplish their aims ? And then convincing their youth to strap explosives on themselves and suicide while taking a few innocent people along with them.

Here in our country many of us are fighting for our lives and health and peaceable survival. And fighting to help others of us who can no longer help themselves.

Somewhere along the course of history it appears to me that some of our sins of omission, commission and greed have laid the groundwork for all that is ill with this world of today.

Are we all to go into eternal darkness with the apparent knowledge that there is no solution, no cure, no hope for those who come after us ?

In our own country, restrictions, literal censorship, and the ability to use dictatorial powers against us, the common people seem to be moving at an accelerated pace.

Is there a ringing in my ears ? A famous man John Donne had a word or two to say about that - long long ago - something I think everyone should take to heart,

- - - No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main: if a clod be washed away be the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Nowadays they don't toll a bell when someone dies and if one doesn't read the obits the passing of people is not much noted. Yet the words of John Donne are as apt today, don't ask for whose death the bells toll (Obits), because in the long run they toll For Thee . . . . . . . . .

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