I have a fantasy...

I have a fantasy.  I could call it a dream, but I think fantasy is probably more accurate.  My fantasy is that in my lifetime I would see a generation of children who only knew about war from the perspective of history.

It's a fantasy because can you imagine how awesome that would be?  That kids would have to talk to their grandparents and great grandparents to learn about what 'war' actually was.


Today in Australia we have a public holiday for ANZAC Day.  It's one day of the year that I struggle with finding a balance between patriotic pride and gratitude for the soldiers, sailors, airmen, nurses, doctors, animals, who have served, and are still serving their country, and my total dismay and disgust about the futility of war.




I understand that it's all about commemorating, not celebrating, but I just wish we were celebrating the fact that there WAS NO WAR!

I can't help but think of the families who still have loved ones deployed in places like Afghanistan.  This week I saw photos of a customer's 19 year old grandson who still has months of his tour left.  19! 19!!!!  He's still a baby, and he's over there wandering dirt roads with a metal detector searching for land mines.  I had a hard time keeping the tears from my eyes...

Do we consider the stress and worry for the family and friends here?  Do we think about the post traumatic stress disorder that our returning troops suffer, sometimes for the rest of their lives?  Do we question the secrecy around what they are subjected to, the atrocities that they witness and are part of, and the way that they often can't share any of that with the people who care about them.  It's crazy.  



And today I'm thinking about another customer who recently lost her young son while he was on tour in Afghanistan. My heart breaks for her and every other mother, father, family member who has lost one of their own.  And my heart breaks for the people who are living in war torn countries around the world RIGHT NOW!

Real people... real children. Real bodies and souls, not just pictures on the television news.


How amazing would it be to live on an Earth where the NEED and DESIRE for war didn't even exist!?  If we were all operating from a place of love, empathy, compassion, tolerance and acceptance instead of greed, fear, hatred, fanaticism, power and ego, how incredibly productive and peaceful would our world be?!