guns

My friend recently traveled to Jerusalem to visit this holy city.  She remembers the beautiful countryside but was shocked at the number of guns carried by most of the residents.  There were many soldiers with automatic guns throughout the area.  Many individuals also openly carried guns and rested them across their laps as they ate or kept them close as they carried out daily activities.  Her description reminded me of the old westerns on TV.  The person who was in charge was the one who had the fastest, most accurate gun.  It didn't matter if he or she was trying to keep peace. uphold the law or was acquiring power, land, money. assets, or control of the countryside.  It didn't matter if killing involved hatred, anger, lust, cruelty as long as the person had more skill.  Might made right.  I wonder how many people were killed accidentally by being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Fear justifies the gun. The guns cause fear.  Hate and distrust cause death.

Martin Luther King wrote, "To retaliate in kind would do nothing but intensify the existence of hate in the universe. Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough, and morality enough, to cut off the chain of hate."

We are gifted with minds that can send people to the moon.  I hope we can learn other ways besides guns to govern ourselves. What is a moral and fair way to create peace with individuals and countries?  Maybe we can find a way to bring God back into the decision-making.  Let us hope to cut of the chain of fear and hate and to learn tolerance, love and acceptance.