By Ashley Herndon
OCEANSIDE, Calif. | Today’s violence in Israel bemoans a different approach, regardless of our allegiances and beliefs. Imagine the surprise that hit the historical tribal leader Moses when he came down from a mountain and saw his people shaping and worshiping a Golden Calf, and on an altar built by his brother, Aaron. That would knock your socks off. Wow…ya’ can’t eat gold.
Herndon
Who believes in what is in the worship anymore? Times were a-changin’ back in history just as they do today. Do people change? My Grandmother used to say, “Ashley, people don’t change, they just get older and slower.” We discussed the “change” issue further. She explained that people don’t fully change’ on a whim, but that it takes time and good reason for them/us to truly change behavior. Habits are tough as whip leather.
Today we have Ukraine, Israel, some countries in Africa, as well as our House of Representatives. that are currently examples of violence, some verbal, some physical, and some warfare. Too many people worship war and weapons of war. Weapons and War are their Golden Calf. Who abandoned reason and why? Some say get over it, since greed never changes. Such battles hark back hundreds of years. Crisis and chaos, threats and murder, cheats and liars, are all expressed in the wide scope of society.
Have we civilized society yet? Not so, apparently. Only the direction the tribes are traveling has changed. In Moses’ time, we were taught that the Israelites headed North and East in their escape. Today the Palestinians are headed South and West. They are covering some of the same turf only thousands of years apart.
Netanyahu is not Moses; he is more like Aaron. Hamas seriously simply needs a leader, not a band of thieves. Can you imagine moving 1,000,000 people in 24 hours, without trains, planes, and automobiles?
Is retribution from any quarter a responsible act? This is not a time for the thought that “my dog is bigger than your dog!”
We here in Oceanside are somewhat familiar with war. We have Camp Pendleton abutting us. Not only do we hear the artillery practice , but we feel the ground shake and see and hear the fighter jets and helicopters zinging around over our heads. We can only imagine what it must be like seeing your loved ones blown up and/or murdered…, maybe in your presence, showing you the Golden Calf of Violence.
The USA has spent billions in our state of California on the military. We’ve seen spending at a level of more than Russia, China, UK, Germany, and France all combined. Look it up! Where is the bulk of that wealth spent? In keeping our Golden Calf fed! It’s hard to chew gold.
Some say 20,000 Hamas fighters may perish, while thousands of civilian men and women may join them in death. For what? It means they and we suffer. Thinking of these innocents, it makes one weep.
Again, history is as Twain suggested: it keeps repeating itself. We always seem to say “enough is enough.” But it is for naught. Will mankind never have the guts to stop it?
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Follow Us