It”s Memorial Day and the sound of sizzling grills echo throughout the land. Today brought two NY Times articles, one an account of “our” marines apparently killing 24 Iraqi children, women and men civilians. Shall we grieve for those 24, their families and friends? Shall we grieve for the marines, our sons, brothers, fathers and friends who, insane with fear, hurt and rage, killed sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers?
Let us do so.
The second article detailed Pope Benedict XVI”s visit to the cells and crematories of Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, where over one million human beings, what, died? No, were killed by other human beings insane with fear, hurt and rage. Shall we mourn them all?
Let us do so.
Most of my father”s family were killed in Nazi concentration camps. I never knew my grandparents on my father”s side and, like an old war-wound, I feel a recurrent ache, a longing to know these never-seen, never-touched ghosts who were, somehow still are, vital to my existence.
Will you mourn them with me?
“Words fail,” said Benedict, “In the end, there can only be a dread silence, a silence that itself is a heartfelt cry to God.
“Why, Lord, did you remain silent?” he said, his voice wobbling. “How could you tolerate this?”
But I hear this question addressed, not to God (who is only silent to those not listening), but to me and everyone with hearts grievously wounded by the violence we continue to wreak on each other, ranging from ignoring and abandoning those who are suffering to the mass murderings of war.
Benedict: “Lord, you are the God of peace. You are peace. A Heart seeking conflict cannot understand you.”
Listening, I hear we are born to love and be loved. Let us do so.
Eric Leber
Kelseyville
ericleber@mchsi.com
