Review of the book War Is... by Marc Aronson and Patty Campbell

This book is very thought provoking as well as heavy and depressing. The two editors have compiled a myriad of actual pieces of writings depicting how people handle war. There are news articles, magazine excerpts, letters, etc. for the reader to read and share in the experiences of the authors. 

It is interesting to note that one editor has a more accepting view of war and the other one is totally against it, no matter what. 

The selections covered several different wars; WWII, Korea, Gulf War, Irac, VietNam. 

One selection affected me the most. It was written by Mark Twain and titled "War Prayer". Mark Twain wrote it in 1904 for publication in Harper's Bazaar, a woman's magazine at the that time. However, the magazine rejected it because it was not viewed as appropriate for the readers. The piece was not found until 1910 and was not published until many years later. It is used as a classic view of antiwar believers.

This piece involves a congregation brought together to pray for the men going off to war. A stranger comes in and speaks to them about their prayer. He proposes to them the notion that they are really praying two prayers. One for their loved ones, and one for the other side. One positive and one negative. This piece did make me stop and think about the affects of our prayers and how unwittingly we are praying for the demise of someone or something else. This all happens in how we word our prayers. 

The other pieces in the book are just as provoking. Each one needs to be given its own due.

It was a depressing book, but I am glad I read it. Today we hear so much about whether we should be in Irac or Afghanistan. Peoples draw lines in the sand. Yes. No. But is there really a definitive answer? I don't think so. War is hell. It does not make sense, yet it has been around since time began. What is the answer? I don't know, do you?

Review of the novel Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

The basic story is about a girl, Green, who loses her family and everything she has ever cherished. She retreats into a world of pain and sorrow. She reacts to her loss by becoming Ash. Sewing thorns in her clothes and nails in her shoes she creates a pain that hides her inner pain. As she begins to tatoo her body with symbols of darkness, she reveals how dead she has become; she has turned to Ash.

At first glance, this book seems to be science fiction, other worldly. On further analysis, it becomes an allegory. Green represents all the good, fruitful, loving existence we all hope for. Ash has become pain, nothingness, death.

Everyone can certainly can understand loss. For some, they probably experience it  everyday. Green retreats from her pain by creating more pain to herself with the thorns, nails and needles. She exposes the pain she is feeling through her tatoos.

 However, Green returns to the "land of the living" through time and circumstance and others in need. Her salvation comes when she begins reaching out to others also in pain and suffering.

 I think her evolution from the old Green to Ash to a new Green symbolizes the strength of the human spirit through hope.

 

Run, Run, Run

Run, run, run. This seems to be the way our lives are today. The scheduling that goes on for our families would make even the highest paid CEO run and hide. We want our children to experience as much as we an provide. This often puts everyone involved on the edge. We need to stop and look at what we are providing and what we are neglecting.

Children do need opportunities to grow and experience new adventures. Sports has always been an area that allows children to learn sportsmanship and cooperation. The research indicates that the advantages of music lessons on academics are positive. Scouting encourages outside activities and volunteering. All these activities provide many positives to our children. No one would want these to be taken away. However, what are the negatives that come from being so busy, so scheduled?

If we look back in our recent past, children did play outside. They had pick up basketball or baseball games. They climbed trees, rode bikes (with pedals not motorized ones) or played chase, or even played house with dolls. They used their imaginations and creativity to make up games and rules. They still learned sportsmanship, cooperation and appreciation of nature. They learned to work things out between themselves without the an adult perspective. 

Organized play is good for our children. However, there needs to balance. We also need to ensure that our children have ample opportunities for free play; for time to play imaginary games and to be creative.

The run, run, run life will probably never end until the children are grown; if then.However, we can still provide down time for them. We need to give time to children, running freely and experience life at their level.

We in turn can learn much from these opportunities. By staying on the sidelines and watching how the children interact with each other and their environment, we can learn a lot about cooperation and respect.

Massages

As I floated away during my massage, I began to ponder the recent popularity of this heavenly gift. Why has getting a massage become so prevalent in our society? My thoughts turned to the Greeks and Romans and their decadent lifestyles. Massages were the norm for the elite. These were viewed as their right.

Massages in our society are purported to be medicinal. Advertisers drum it into our heads that we must have a massage for good health. The stress of our lives is making us sick.

Another avenue to take would be to look at our disconnected lives. We live apart from family, we don't even call much anymore. We text, facebook, twitter, blog,etc. These are the ways we communicate. The human need for touch and closeness is not being met. So what do we do?

We go get a massage. We get the touching we need from a stranger. Yes, it does relieve stress, and in so doing, aids our health. However, the one one one touching is also met. 

We begin life with loving arms enveloping us as we leave the safe womb and enter a cold, strange environment. These loving arms, caressing us, bring comfort and peace. 

The massage offers this comfort. A peace falls gently down and we have for a brief moment reached that remembrance of the beginning of our awareness of the environment.

You may say my massage did not achieve this since I was thinking these deep thoughts. I disagree. I am at most peaceful, when I am floating through my thoughts. 

So I will continue to go for my monthly massages in the hopes that my stress will be relieved and my health improved. But deep down I know why I really go. I am searching for that human desire for touch.

Why set up a blog?

Why set up a blog? That is a question I have frequently asked. I keep a journal on my computer, so isn't that enough. I have decided that it is not enough. I want to share my "musings" and find out what others think. 

So make yourself at home. Create, ponder, explore. The world of the mind is uncharted. Are you ready for the journey?

I am.