At last night's candlelight vigil, I tried something that may stun you.
As I stood candle in hand, at the edge of the curb in back of the sign, with a warm smile, I looked into the eyes of the people driving by. In my heart I sought God in each person and as I did, I felt love for them.
This unstated action apparently touched many people, for never before have there been so many horn honks, waves, thumbs up and two fingered peace symbols in support of the vigil.
Meanwhile in Iraq, earlier this week part of a U.S. convoy in Fallujah was blown up by a road side bomb. With one powerful, ear splitting explosion, 3 Americans were killed and 2 were wounded.
Yesterday a Baghdad bomb blast rocked an Abu Ghraib area market, the force trembling buildings and sending people fleeing in fear. Its target was an American patrol and it killed 1 U.S. soldier and 4 Iraqi civilians.
The Iraqi dead were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time but then so was that U.S. soldier.
For the Americans, this was the 20th killing this month, the most since 25 Americans were killed last September. For Iraqis, death and destruction, and the misery of their lives continues every day as part of the more than 6 year old U.S. military occupation of their nation.
As these deaths occur, families in Iraq and in the U.S. are devastated. A father or mother or a brother or sister or a child is blown to bits or left to die in a pool of blood.
The families will bear this horrific loss for a lifetime yet it is as immediate as a mother suddenly left without the head of the household. How will she support herself and their children? Who will pay for their home or put food on the table?
But that's not the concern of those who wage war. But it is the concern of those who support the vigil. Last night the vigil was joined by a 63-year-old Haitian man and by a 50-year-old woman, both of whom often join.
And it was also joined in spirit by numerous drivers and by people who light candles in support and by readers who care.
As we recall those who have paid so severe a price it is my hope this war and its military occupation will be brought to an end before more lives are needlessly taken from us all.
Dick
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