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April 13, 1999
Holocaust Remembrance Day
I'm writing this a couple days after the fact. It seems that there's a reason why I didn't originally have an entry for this date, and now it is time for one.
I went to CNN this morning, and the first thing I saw was the headline story about NATO forces mistakenly bombing the ethnic Albanians who were trying to flee the country. It makes me sick. Here we are, supposedly trying to help these people, and it seems like we're doing more harm than good! First the accidental bombing of a passenger train, and now the not-quite-so-accidental bombing of a civilian convoy.
The fact is, bombs are stupid! They don't know the difference between a military patrol and a group of civilians trying to get out of the country. Obviously, NATO air troops can't tell the difference either. That leads me to just one conclusion: The bombing has to stop! There has to be another solution. Violence only begets more violence. Bombing causes death, injury, and destruction of property.
If you listen to what Boris Yeltsin had to say, we're treading a thin line here:
I told NATO, the Americans, the Germans: don’t push us towards military action. Otherwise there will be a European war for sure and possibly world war. -- Boris Yeltsin
So what can you do? And what can I do? I know, it feels like we're pretty helpless here... we're sitting and watching men, women and children die. What can we do?
What it seems like we need is an army of Supermen -- you know... bullets bounce off his chest, and he can tie gun barrels into knots, rendering the weapons useless. Just create a chain of them all around Kosovo, and march inward, ridding everyone of their weapons, and flying them off to a deserted island for a while until their tempers cool.
As for Milosovic himseslf, he probably shouldn't be dropped off with his armies; his control over them is his source of power. He should be given his own little island, surrounded by a couple hundred people constantly sending out good thoughts. He should be treated humanely, given sufficient food and water, and lots of time to think. If he has family who wish to join him, that's fine; if they're willing to live in exile with him, then so be it.
Then, while everyone's cooling off, all the weapons should be collected, smelted, and turned into a monument to peace. After that, if the soldiers can show honest regret for what they have done, then they can go home to their families, and work to undo the damage they have done to the land and to rebuild personal property. I suppose the same should go for Milosovic too, but he should have to agree to live an ordinary life, and never to attempt to attain power again. Of course, returning to an ordinary life would probably put him in danger from the families of those who lost their husbands and fathers, so maybe he'd just decide that he liked his little island paradise, and live out his days there.
Unfortunately, I don't forsee a spaceship from planet Krypton arriving and saving the day; we have to figure this one out on our own. As for the rest of the plan, I still don't think it sounds too bad. So what do we use in place of our imaginary Supermen? How about prayer, positive thoughts, meditation and visualization?
I know of at least one group that has organized a month of prayer and positive thoughts for Kosovo, and if you're interested, you can check it out here: Kosovo Vigil. If you follow the link, please take the time to read Marianne's Editorial on the vigil, as well.
It won't cost you much to participate: just a few minutes of your time each day, right where you are, from now until May 4th. Think good thoughts; visualize peace and forgiveness. You don't have to believe in God, and you don't have to be a Christian. Just think good thoughts toward the ethnic Albanians, the Serbian Military forces, and even toward Slobodan Milosovic; imagine them opening their eyes and their hearts, and seeing that what they are doing is mass murder. Imagine them throwing down their weapons, and abandoning their armies, en masse. Think good thoughts toward NATO and our leaders as well, that they might stop the attacks, and work toward a more peaceful solution.
You don't have to tell anyone what you are doing... just do it, and believe in the power of positive thought.
For more information on the Kosovo Prayer Vigil, try these links:
http://www.worldpuja.org/MEMBERS/EVENTS/040399vigilrt.htm
http://www.renaissancealliance.org/ARA/index.html
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