From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War; Hitler’s rampage, World Wars I & II; Japan’s oppression of the Chinese; European enslavement of my African Ancestors; the genocide of Native Americans and the stealing of their land. Israel’s oppression of the Palestinians. The pillage of the African Continent by the Arabs under the banner of Islam. The Crusade wars. British colonialism of Africa and Australia. The genocides in Rwanda and the Congo. North Korea’s flirtatious nuclear weapons bluster and that country’s brutal oppression of its people. From global terrorist networks bent on destruction to kidnapped girls by brutes in Liberia to ISIS’ blood thirsty rampage in Iraq to Russia’s attempts to violently snatch Ukraine and rebuild the Soviet Union. On and on and on and on – CONFLICT!
How do we resolve these conflicts? I simply don’t know. The unfortunate reality is human existence is fraught with difficult challenges. And as long as religious fundamentalism, greed, sex, money and lust for power is part of the human equation, conflict will always exist. If the very presence of Jesus couldn’t halt Rome’s oppression; If the rebellions of Spartacus, Nat Turner, Toussaint Louverture
Gasper Yanga and Joseph Cinque couldn’t dissuade nations from maintaining and instituting slavery; if Dr. King’s Dream couldn’t eradicate bigotry and prejudice; if American Democracy, which is undergirded by its own hypocrisy, can’t prevent the rise of brutes and dictators into power, CONFLICT AND CHAOS will remain.
And while I support the notion of prayer as an answer, I’m ever mindful that people have been praying for peace for thousands of years. From faithful Monks rotating in 24 hour cycles of prayer in monasteries atop huge mountain vistas to Catholic nuns fasting in convents and faithful members of churches, synagogues and mosques all over the world, people are and have been lifting their voices in prayer. Yet, the violence and chaos persists. Until the hearts of Mankind change, the predicament of war, conflict and violence will continue. Truly heartbreaking and sad.
Ron Holland is the host of the Public Affairs show, ‘COMMUNITY VOICES’ on WPZS -100.9 & 92.7 FM, Charlotte. He’s also a Producer and Board Operator for WOSF – Old School 105.3 FM. Ron is also a Production Assistant with all three stations. Any thoughts on this week’s commentary send Ron an email: ronholland@radio-one.com
A WORLD IN CONFLICT was originally published on praisecharlotte.com
