How Sad for the Palestinian/Israeli People!

How sad for the poor PALESTINIAN people--

Victims of Israeli rocket attacks

Aimed at alleged Hamas targets

And pounding Gaza to the max.

 

How sad for the poor ISRAELI people

Who are trying to live their lives day by day--

Who are targets of Palestinian rockets--

A constant barrage being sent their way.

 

How sad for the poor PALESTINIAN mother

Who lost her daughter when the hospital was hit

By Israeli rockets, scattering shrapnel;

She wonders what makes such killing legit.

 

How sad for the poor ISRAELI mother

Whose son was killed by Palestinian thugs.

She will NEVER see her son grow older

And will miss his laughter, his love, his hugs.

 

The PALESTINIAN mother shouts out,

“I hate them. I hate them. May they all die!”

“They do NOT deserve to live!”

The ISRAELI mom cries with her fist to the sky.

 

How sad for ALL PEOPLE caught in between

The violent struggles of extremist groups

And aggressive, intransigent ruling powers

With powerful weapons and well-trained troops.

 

How sad for ALL who lose lives or loved ones

Or who must watch with a broken heart

While everything starts to crumble around them

As their helpless worlds fall apart.

 

Bullets and bombs are not diplomacy;

Violence and killing are for heartless fools.

Innocent people should not be targets,

Nor their places of worship or schools.

 

What about diplomatic solutions--

Of working things out so that people can thrive?

What is accomplished by being a martyr?

We can do more good by staying alive.

 

Each death means that anger and hatred

Will fester and grow and surely extend

The never-ceasing violence and destruction.

When will these hateful blood feuds end?

(7-26-14)

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[Ke11y]

Soldiers who want to be heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians.

Rod McKuen.