a sad week of global terrorism and glorification of an unjust war

i am saddened by the fact that around 300 children in russia are being held hostage this morning, allegedly by chechen rebels. along with the hostage children are some 40 parents. 8 people have been killed. although i am seeking to understand and am trying to empathize with the chechen people’s cry for justice, this act is not justifiable. it is an act of cowardice!

i’m saddened by the death of 90 people who died in russia last tuesday night in two planes that went down within 20 minutes of each other. i cry with the families of those 90 people who died. the chechen rebels denied any involvement in the plane crashes. those responsible for these acts of terrorism are cowards!

i’m saddened by the death of 16 people and the hurting of 100 others in two suicide bus bombings last monday in be'er sheva, israel. hamas claimed responsibility for the attack (ha aretz news). this unjust act by hamas only exacerbates the cycle of bitter violence in the region!

i’m saddened that, the other day, 12 nepali workers in iraq were killed. one of them was beheaded. these are fathers and brothers of poor families in nepal who simply wanted to earn more to better their lives. there is no moral justification whatsoever for this disgusting act of cowardice! i am praying for the families of these workers. the iraqi militant group who murdered these nepali workers claims—a false claim—that they are doing this in the name of god.

i’m saddened that, as of today, 11,723 civilians and 1,109 military personnel have died in the past 532 days of this unjust war in iraq. i’m saddened most of all by the republican party’s glorification of this war, especially by those republicans who profess to be the followers of the prince of peace. perhaps, the republican national convention is the place for these right wing conservative christians to wear and reflect on the meaning of their “what-would-jesus-do” bracelets as they applaud the u.s. war against iraq. this war has nothing to do with the war on terror. this war is about the national interest of the united states—fueled by oil.

god, i continue to pray for justice and peace in our world. amen.