SOUL CARE—THE CALL FOR A GLOBAL CEASEFIRE 4/2/20

SOUL CARE—THE CALL FOR GLOBAL CEASEFIRE  4/2/20

Imagine what it would do for the soul of America if the nation heeded the call of UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez for cessation of all wars in the world now that the CORVID_19 virus crisis is upon us.  “The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war. That is why today, I am calling for a global ceasefire in all corners of the world.   It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives” he said on March 23.   

While it is hard to imagine the U.S. war machine shutting down, why not?  Readers have reminded me that the U.S. war machine is a response to the fears of the people—it is supported and paid for because we are afraid.  That is undoubtedly true.  Is it the last word?  Shall it be the last word?  Ultimately that is ours to decide. 
It is good to acknowledge our fears—they are real and cannot be denied.
But we should also acknowledge our courage—that too is real.
And our imagination, which also is real.  
Our fears will determine our destiny if we allow them to immobilize us.  
For the USA to close down its war machine would be a great shock to the system—comparable in intensity no doubt to the coronavirus itself, but of a different sort.  What energy are we willing to expend, what effort will we make, to see it happen?  The task looks impossible, but we do what we can in the face of apparently impossible tasks, don’t we?  

My ongoing plea for the soul of American does not come from a place of ignorance of what is actually happening.  I too read the news.  The US is not tamping down its belligerence.   ofhttps://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/04/01/despite-calls-global-ceasefire-trump-threatens-war-iran-amid-covid-19?cd-
And I know that Joe Biden, who adamantly argued for the war against Iraq, is the favored candidate for president of many Democrats.  As Andrew Bacevich wrote  in “Judgment Day for the National Security State:”    Imagine, if you will, Democrats in 1880 nominating not a former union general (as they did) but a former confederate who, 20 years before, had advocated secession.” 
So we do not see the U.S. heeding the call for cessation of war, but be do not have to accept what is as what should be.
John K. Stoner  4/2/20
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