Ever Forward

Life as metaphor. Metaphor as life. Experience noted. Understanding experience worked on.


So, it goes for each of us. We don’t know what meaning attaches to every happening in our lives. They are just there. We may see them, certainly feel them, and then we ponder them. What do they mean? Why should we take note?


It is a process. Never done. Always squirming through our consciousness, or not. At odd times it surprises us, demands attention if we hadn’t before.


Some events jar current thinking. Illness, threat of death, injury with pain, all that sort of thing comes readily to mind. Other events do the same with less personal focus. Like war, threat of war, calamitous weather brewing near.


That’s when we take note and wonder. In case of weather threat, we wonder how we can insulate ourselves and our homes from damage in the future. Ought we care so much about these things? Should we focus less on things and more on people and relations with them?


After every hurricane or tornado (and fire, flood, etc.) survivors are interviewed picking through the remains of their homes and possessions. Universally they exclaim: “At least we have each other; all else can be replaced or wasn’t all that important anyway.”


How true that is.


Now, the threat of war with Iran is a sobering thought. We have military actions going in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. We are aware and alert and active in Africa, several points in fact. We are alert and posturing in the South China Sea. We have military installations the world over. We have commitments in many places. Yet we think we should skirmish with Iran?  


Ought we think of wrapping things up in some places before starting yet another entanglement? Think on that for many moments. Why have we allowed the current military engagements last so long? Why not take appropriate action to settle the matters, then move on with other grave circumstances. That tactic would keep us more able to handle threats like Iran with more confidence and surer strategy.


Of course, the primary objective is not to engage in these affairs at all. Diplomatic efforts and relationship building should be going forward to build peace and collaboration among nations, not division and war. Not all peace is won through war. Not all military actions are necessary. They are best avoided with understanding one another and building attractive alternatives that make cooperation fruitful for both parties.


Over the last 20 years our Foreign Service has been decimated. Of course, we develop new people for these roles, but funding has been cut, morale was severely challenged after 9/11 and with the bent on war with the Taliban and Saddam Hussein. Those skirmishes saw over 500 experienced diplomats resign or retire early. Same is happening under the odd international relations program of the current president.


Our allies are flummoxed by our change in attitudes expressed by the White House. So are most of us who have lived here all our lives. Our flummoxes are more emotional for us than our allies!


Going forward requires a vision of a peaceful world. The forward is collaborative. It is not dictated by any one nation. It must be a group discussion, examination of possibilities, and joint resourcing for maximum outcomes. That’s what builds peace. Churchill knew this. So did DeGaulle. And FDR, Eisenhower, and so many more outstanding leaders.


Ever forward in such a manner is not in the vocabulary of the current occupant of the White House.

More’s the pity for that. War should not be inevitable. But perhaps in today’s setting, it is?


June 24, 2019