Outbreak of Peace (long)

[margo49]

It still seems so fragile - especially when you think of the diplomacy and logistics involved in organising and deploying an International Force of 15 000
assorted armed peace-keepers (if that is not a contradiction).

But it is *now* 38 hours and 10 minutes since the Ceasefire came into effect.

Everything is so quiet now. Instead of sirens, explosions, gunfire and aircraft overhead, we are at last hearing birdsong during the day and crickets chirping at night. They are unexpectedly loud. Perhaps because we have missed them. Perhaps because we just stop and listen now.

People are returning to their homes (or what is left of them) and soldiers are returning to their bases (although most are not yet actually demobilised)
The radio is playing regular music and news bulletins are shorter and noticeably absent are lists of names or times and locations of funerals.
Sadly however we are starting to see the extent of the environmental damage: dead fish and oil pollution on the coast and thousands of acres of forest reduced to ash. This is Mediterranean mixed forest - from tiny wild-flowers to caper bushes and olives; along with oaks, pines and the increasingly mythical cedars. And all the associated wildlife: mice,porcupines,mongoose,foxes and jackals ; and so many kinds of birds resident, visitors and and migrants. Estimated recovery time - 60 years. I will never see it and my children will be over 75 years old by then. Assuming we don't do any more damage.

The most poignant story was from a Forest Ranger, standing almost ankle deep in the grey ash. He drew the tv reporter's attention to the numerous jackal prints on the dead ground. I started to smile, thinking of animals returning to nests and holes and all manner of homes. But then the Ranger explained that far from being a pack of jackals these tracks were the aimless meanderings of a lone individual searching out once-familiar places in its now burnt-out territory.And you could see it so clearly - a line of tracks as it walked along , then a muddle of prints as it shifted from foot to foot presumably sniffing and poking to discover what had happened to whatever it had expected to see at that particular spot. Then a continuation of the walking tracks to another muddle of prints...

Can we imagine its confusion and distress? Now multiply that for every bird, animal and person in the region.
If we could imagine *that* surely we would not have done it.

38 hours 40 minutes and counting

[bikerchick68]

poignant and well written Margo... I'll be wishing for 40 hours 10 min.. then 45 hours... then 100... then years... be safe.

[mtkitchn]

I hope the cease fire holds for you Margo. It would be nice if someday there could be peace on earth (HA!).
War is so horrible to the environment. War is so horrible to everything. I'm so sorry your forest has been destroyed. I hope you all stay as safe and healthy as you can.

[Bikingmomof3]

Margo,
Thank you for sharing with us what you are seeing and hearing. My heart breaks for your country and all countries being destroyed by wars. My continued prayers for peace. Be safe, be well.

[esther231]

I'm glad you posted. You've been in my thoughts.

We'll count with you, hopefully, till we run out of numbers.

Stay safe.

[Running Mommy]

Thanks Margo- I wish you didn't have to write it, so sad that you did...
I continue to pray for you and all in the region.
Peace, we need peace. I think the world just needs a group hug right now, not that it's gonna happen... sigh..:( ...

[Nanci]

Nice to know the whole world blames Bush. I think every country has the right to defend itself. I hope the _____ that started this can never re-arm/rebuild. Too bad the people of the country have to pay.

[snowtulip]

Thanks Margo, as a wildlife biologist, this really struck a chord, it's the other side of war that is rarely mentioned. Stay safe and thanks for informing us of your world right now.

[Trek420]

mtkitchn "I hope the cease fire holds for you Margo. It would be nice if someday there could be peace on earth (HA!)."

Me too, now let healing begin.

"War is so horrible to the environment. War is so horrible to everything. I'm so sorry your forest has been destroyed."

I'm thinking, it's our forest too. :o War effects us all.

Same ocean, same air (everybody join hands and sing Kumbaya).

Nanci, TE, now it is up to us. Not to politicize TE, I don't care whether you're "red" or "blue" maybe now more will see it's important and care. Our foreign policy effects others and the earth itself. Elections are around the corner. More people vote for American Idol than in national elections. That's a shame.

Vote early and often :o

[oxysback]

More people vote for American Idol than in national elections. That's a shame.

Hmm, imagine unlimited phone and text votes...and no age limit! Not really an accurate comparison, IMO. :)

:::ducking and running:::

[eclectic]

So hard to imagine the devastation while I am sitting here in my safe little world.

thank you for the description it brings a reality to the situation.

May the cease fire hold and the crickets continue to chirp

[Trek420]

oxysback "Hmm, imagine unlimited phone and text votes...and no age limit! Not really an accurate comparison, IMO. :)"

now THERE'S an idea!

":::ducking and running:::"

Come back, no problem, no need to duck and run. It feels good finaly to be able to laugh a little about it. Still very sad for all the people who suffered on both sides. This is where my Dad was raised after all.

[oxysback]

Come back, no problem, no need to duck and run. It feels good finaly to be able to laugh a little about it. Still very sad for all the people who suffered on both sides. This is where my Dad was raised after all.

Agreed. War is hell.

I was talking to a high school guy awhile back. He voiced the opinion that no wars should have happened...ever. I then asked him if he liked his freedom. He looked at me funny until I mentioned the Civil War. He happens to be black. Point made.

Some people don't get that sometimes there are righeous reasons for war.

[Kitsune06]

hey, if we can only get every citizen in the 'states to register to vote and actually vote we'll be doing something. I try so hard not to be political here (I could go on and on) but seriously bad things are happening to our personal rights and freedoms... and they'll keep happening if eveyone hears what's happening and goes "No WAY... they can't REALLY be considering THAT"
... Funny, you don't often hear this stuff on the news, either.
ok... sorry about the interlude, it's just been bugging me all day.

[Running Mommy]

This whole thing about voting reminds me of a funny thing..
A few years back when CA decided to recall it's govenor I had a friend in Sac who was all up in arms trying to get everyone to sign the petition to recall him. He actually made this statement- I almost fell on the floor!
Him: " well if the recall gets put on the ballot I'll actually go VOTE this time"
Me: "what do you mean? You don't vote??!!"
him: "No. I haven't voted in years"
Me: "The you have NO RIGHT to beaatch about Gray Davis!!!"....
Ahhh I still get riled up over that one!!
Ahh gotta love our fellow americans!! :D :eek: :p :D :eek: :p :D

[snapdragen]

Oh Margo. I'm happy that the cease fire has begun; heartbroken over what has happened to the land. Your writings always touch me, thank you for sharing this part of your life.

[Patti37]

You are in my thoughts...always. I hope the ceasfire holds and that those in power realize the damage that has been caused.

The spirit of people in difficult circumstances can be remarkable. I hope you and those around you can rebuild what was lost.

[jeannierides]

Margo, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. It is a horrible thing, and rarely solves any problem. YOu, your family, and all those affected will continue to be in my prayers.

[Lise]

Dear Margo,

Keeping you, and all the beings in the region in my thoughts and prayers. I breathe out and see the green returning to the forest, the animals to their homes.

love, Lise

[Duck on Wheels]

Agreed. War is hell.

I was talking to a high school guy awhile back. He voiced the opinion that no wars should have happened...ever. I then asked him if he liked his freedom. He looked at me funny until I mentioned the Civil War. He happens to be black. Point made.

Some people don't get that sometimes there are righeous reasons for war.

Well ... maybe he had a point there. Not that no war ever had a "silver lining" outcome, but that it would have been preferable, and possible!, to achieve that outcome by other means. Choosing pacifism does not necessarily mean choosing passivity!

[Geonz]

I took an entire course on the Civil War. (So no, I"m not an expert !!)

Its necessity for ending slavery is arguable. Putting a "spin" on human motivation wasn't invented in the 20th century.
THe whole premise that "war is just necessary" is something that needs to at *least* be questioned.

(I'm afraid this professor had consistently convincing evidence that economic forces and egoes-in-power were the driving forces in generating wars; wars can be extremely economically beneficial for people with enough business clout to have enough money to be insulated from them. Reckon it's kinda like performance enhancing drugs - everybody does it so it must be okay... which of course, is how a lot of people felt about slavery...)

I am so glad the birds are back, and hope the jackals can find solace.

[chickwhorips]

i'm very happy to hear from you and to hear how things are going. though its bitter sweet considering all the rebuilding that has to be done. not only for the people, but the animals and environment as well. i pray that thing stay quiet in the world of fighting, but are loud with the birds and rebuilding.

thank you for sharing your life and your experience. you, your family and friends are always in my thoughts.

[Bruno28]

I took an entire course on the Civil War. (So no, I"m not an expert !!)




And I was always brought up to believe that Americans had no sense of irony! But I digress...

[Denise223]

Originally posted by Margo49
Can we imagine its confusion and distress? Now multiply that for every bird, animal and person in the region.

If we could imagine *that* surely we would not have done it.

38 hours 40 minutes and counting


I will continue to pray for you, your family and every living person and all of the precious animals who have been affected by this horrible war. I am so sorry!

Hoping and praying for a permanent gift of PEACE !

Love, Denise

[CorsairMac]

thanks again for keeping us posted Margo........sometimes it is just the simple things like hearing the birds sing again that keep us going. May the minutes become hours become days become weeks become................

[doc]

Agreed. War is hell.
I was talking to a high school guy awhile back. He voiced the opinion that no wars should have happened...ever. I then asked him if he liked his freedom. He looked at me funny until I mentioned the Civil War. He happens to be black. Point made.
Some people don't get that sometimes there are righeous reasons for war.

Sorry. I do NOT believe there is ever a righteous reason to start a war. After all, the spanish inquisition was righteous, Hitler surely felt righteous, and Bush felt righteuos actually starting a war which has now gone on for years with absolutely no end in sight. Currently it can only be described as a civil war due to his destruction of their dictatorial (and admittedly NOT civil rights protecting, unfair, insane) government and infrastructure.

Very few people (not zero, I know) died in Sadam Hussein's era, and thousands and thousands of iraqis have died because of Bush with 10's to 100's dying every day now. I sure don't see anything righteous here. Or smart. Or successful.

As for the American civil war, you don't know the alternative outcomes that could have occured if war was averted. Let's say there was no war and the north and south split peacefully. The north probably would have chosen to outlaw slavery. It is certainly conceivable, and in fact likely, that with time the south would have changed it's structure as the political climate and influences of bordering countries pressured it. Ultimately, the south would very likely have gotten rid of slavery as well. The civil war remains the war during which the USA had the highest number of casualties. I don't see how that is righteous.

War is always the worst solution. Diplomacy coupled with respect for other people's right to exist and live differently should be the goal of every conflict.

[oxysback]

War is always the worst solution. Diplomacy coupled with respect for other people's right to exist and live differently should be the goal of every conflict.

Of course...in a perfect world. But until then my opinion is that things happen for a reason. The casualties are horrible...yes. Good people die that probably had a long life ahead of them. I get that.

I just have a hard time believing we were supposed to just lie down and take it when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor....or when we wanted to be independent from England...or when planes were hijacked and flown into buildings.

There's nothing more I would like to see our world live in peace. But it's just not going to happen anytime in the near future.

This is my last post on this subject. I recognize that we all have our own opinions and they will clash when the subject is so sensitive. But I wish to remain in good standing on this wonderful board!

My sincere apologies for the thread drift, Margo. I'm thrilled that those in your area of the world have some respite from the fighting.

[doc]

1. I just have a hard time believing we were supposed to just lie down and take it when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor....or when we wanted to be independent from England...or when planes were hijacked and flown into buildings.

2. There's nothing more I would like to see our world live in peace. But it's just not going to happen anytime in the near future.

3. This is my last post on this subject. I recognize that we all have our own opinions and they will clash when the subject is so sensitive. But I wish to remain in good standing on this wonderful board!

4. My sincere apologies for the thread drift, Margo. I'm thrilled that those in your area of the world have some respite from the fighting.

1. I never said anything about self defense. Plus, don't be fooled into thinking the war in iraq has anything to do with the hijacked planes being flown into the world trade center. That war is about oil. The only connection is al quada and iraq are both spelled with a q

2. Why not?

3. Ditto.

4. Ditto

[mimitabby]

1. I never said anything about self defense. Plus, don't be fooled into thinking the war in iraq has anything to do with the hijacked planes being flown into the world trade center. the only connection is al quada and iraq are both spelled with a q

2. Why not?

3. Ditto.

4. Ditto

right on.

[massbikebabe]

Margo;

May the peace of your country last forever. I just lost my Dad who was a vet of three wars. Before his death he shared some of his war stories with me. There is nothing glamores about war. War=Death no matter who is involved. I have prayed this conflict would end swiftly. Enough is Enough!


karen