Life At Its Extremes

War and Destruction
@Shiva49 (26776)
Singapore
October 18, 2023 9:29am CST
We always seek an oasis of peace, but it is a futile daily struggle for a few. The headlines sear through our consciences. Innocents, including children, are paying the price for no fault. Wars are like that. Humans are digits, soon forgotten, but the hurts of their families will live all their lives. Soon, a new chapter would be written, and fresh challenges and dynamics put the horrors on the back burner. The helplessness of ordinary folks is palpable. They are forced to accept the bitter reality of wars and death as par for the course. They hope against hope their leaders will find a way out of the mayhem, but it proves too late. Is it all inevitable to run its course right through our history? Will history repeat itself? I feel a sense of despair and cannot even watch the news of wickedness. Charles Dickens’s words in Tale of Two Cities come to mind. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way–in short, the period was so far like the present period.” Yes, history repeats itself as our deeds are inspired by non-love. Image: War and Destruction from Pixabay free images
16 people like this
14 responses
@Beestring (14694)
• Hong Kong
18 Oct 23
Indeed, history repeats itself. War has never stopped.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
18 Oct 23
Yes, but the intensity due to weapons of mass destruction foretells our doom if we don't mend our ways.
3 people like this
@Beestring (14694)
• Hong Kong
18 Oct 23
@Shiva49 The world is in danger. The Russian-Ukraine has been going on for a long time. Now, the crisis in the Middle East, and there is ongoing tension in the Asia Pacific.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
18 Oct 23
@Beestring The danger is in fuelling the flames of war instead of finding solutions with an approach of give and take. Things can go out of control in a jiffy.
3 people like this
@just4him (317238)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Oct 23
It's a sad truth as we watch the horrors of war on the evening news.
3 people like this
@just4him (317238)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Oct 23
@Shiva49 I don't watch it either. There are plenty of people to tell me what's going on.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
28 Oct 23
I don't watch the news except read the headlines on the net. I feel sick in the pit of my stomach watching the gory details. The common folks are mere bystanders sadly while a few are victims of the senselessness.
3 people like this
@allknowing (137801)
• India
19 Oct 23
They are fighting for something but is it worth finding for that something at the cost of millions of deaths? They need to ask and answer that question.
3 people like this
@allknowing (137801)
• India
20 Oct 23
@Shiva49 War is bad and countries should now think of getting away from it.
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90474)
• Arvada, Colorado
18 Oct 23
You have stated this Shvia so eloquently and truthfully. Like you, I turn away from the screens and the news, too horrifying, completely disturbing and unsettling. The worldwide ripple is happening where people are shocked. Yes that was very apt the Charles Dickens lines..I wonder why he refrained from using the word hell.
3 people like this
• Arvada, Colorado
19 Oct 23
@Shiva49 Yes I agree, every life is sacred Shiva.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
19 Oct 23
Thanks Ocean Tiara. Leaders seem to think deaths cannot be avoided. I saw how much the babies were suffering and it is abominable cruelty. And to think those who are victims are just as human as we are. Are not all lives sacred? Humanity should prevail at all times.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342145)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Oct 23
No generation seems to learn from the mistakes of the previous generations. It just doesn't happen.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
19 Oct 23
We tend to think we are different - it applies to individuals as also to mankind in general. But the reality of cause and effect cannot br undone.
3 people like this
@KarenAnne (257)
• United Kingdom
18 Oct 23
History repeats itself and always the innocent get hurt because those with power are paranoid about losing it.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
18 Oct 23
Yes, when those who declare wars are ensconced in safe havens, they have a different take on wars when compared to ordinary folks who are helpless and bear the brunt of conflicts. Don't their lives matter?
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (182199)
• United States
1 Dec 23
Wise and descriptive words of the times we live in.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
1 Dec 23
Thank you, our lives are expendable for our supposed leaders. We are cannon fodder for them.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
26 Aug
As long and greed and desire for power exist, war will exist. It is all about evil. For wars to end, good must triumph.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
27 Aug
Yes, we spend more time and money on wars than peace. Peace is an afterthought while wars fill the coffers of a few that matter while the vast majority suffers.
2 people like this
• Philippines
20 Jan
I hope i would still be alive and no war in my door step. But if that happens maybe I will choose to fight than run and become a refugee. Im not trying to be brave but this is my home.
@jstory07 (139980)
• Roseburg, Oregon
11 Dec 23
War will always be around and we fight over stupid things. The poor children always pay the price.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
12 Dec 23
The only species that seem to rebel against God and creation. It will end up as a sad epitaph at the end of the human race due to our inability to coexist.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220267)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep
All we can do is approach the people around us with a positive attitude.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220267)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Sep
@Shiva49 Me too.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
26 Sep
I hope it all adds up to tilt the scale in favor of peace.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
26 Dec
Very true words. History always repeats itself. It’s unfortunate that the innocent have to suffer and at what cost? There will never be peace on earth, unfortunately, until it’s too late.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
27 Dec
@Shiva49 Isn’t that the truth? I’m so worried for the future generation.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
27 Dec
Yes, until it is too late and after we have paid a heavy price that lays waste to our beautiful planet tailor-made for us. We are more than being ungrateful for the largesse lavished on us.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (22092)
• Australia
18 Oct 23
The term ordinary folk is sometimes an apt one to use, but.... Is there really anything such as an ordinary person? Each life is valuable in its own right, and should not be overshadowed and cowled away by shadows of war being placed upon them by their wicked leaders. Good folk have to make the best of it in a bad world, and do their best at the same time, to vote in good people, and to remove as many of the bad as they can. War, in a lot of ways, is a cleanser, pushing people into action, where they would not usually be pushed. War must be serving some type of a purpose, for the overall passage of the world, otherwise, surely, it would not be happening, as in the long run, all must be somehow a part of the overall plan of God's for the world.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (22092)
• Australia
20 Oct 23
@Shiva49 War is always about bad people trying to win over good people. The innocent, good, and bad, suffer at the hands of the bad leaders. War allows the bad to fester, and the good to wake up to themselves, but the world needs to embrace peace not war, and it is the hardest lesson for all to learn. The evil storms of war affect all, good, and bad alike, but, the good do need to stand up, and try to replace evil leaders, with good leaders.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
20 Oct 23
@innertalks Another issue the good have to grapple with is religious fanaticism. Wars take on religious color and a few think they are serving God by killing others who follow a different faith. Humanity should prevail but for that, we need to have a broader vision.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
19 Oct 23
The issue with all wars is the innocent suffer most. Most have no real voice even in a democracy where the machinations of the vested interests prevail. Instead of using all channels in place to prevent wars, our leaders seem to stoke the fires even at both ends. It looks like getting rid of arms that are getting outdated. Indirectly, a few benefit from wars and conflicts. Our creator may want us to learn the lessons but the few who have no belief in God set the agenda and drag others to their misery and doom.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (58710)
• Portugal
31 Aug
Dickens' words are still só true, unfortunatelly.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
1 Sep
We are one species that cannot coexist and we consider ourselves as at the apex of creation! I recall - "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools" - Martin Luther King, Jr.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
2 Sep
@nela13 A few make a fool out of the majority who want to be left at peace everywhere.
2 people like this
@nela13 (58710)
• Portugal
1 Sep
@Shiva49 Unfortunatelly we are more fools than brothers.
2 people like this