To the editor:
In his folk song, “Blowin’ in the Wind,” Bob Dylan asks, “How many times must the cannon balls fly, before they’re forever banned? How many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry? Yes, and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows that too many people have died?”
Are we going to be asking these questions until the end of time, or are we able to say, right now, even one death in revenge is too many? We as a species are thinking human beings who are able to come up with effective ways to resolve conflict. Even when it seems impossible, we can learn to look upon others with respect for their humanity. We can listen to the other side’s needs and wants to increase our understanding. We can seek common ground.
The alternative is to sow the seeds of an endless cycle of violence and revenge. John Lester said, “We repeat history until we make another’s pain our own.” We must find a way forward so that Israelis and Palestinians will no longer fear their very survival is at stake and they will be able to live in peace and security in their homeland. A cease-fire is the beginning of this process.
Devon Hildreth
Manataug Trail