Worthwhile Warfare – The Fight Against Injustice

May 30, 2010 at 10:58 pm · Filed under Challenges, Difficulties, Do Something, Growth, development, health and wellness, Living, Men, relationships, women and tagged: "B" word, "N" word, anger, battle, brave, challenge, division, fight, Greed, Hate, Justice, Memorial day, Savages, soldiers, War, warfare, weapons

It seemed strange, though these movies were totally different I was left with similar emotions of horror, disbelief and repulsion. I had just watched “Lakota Woman – Siege at Wounded Knee” and it brought to my mind the battle that took place in the movie “Avatar”. Different indeed, one based on real events, the other on fantasy, but the things that led up to the battles seemed so similar — Greed – one group willing to fight for something that belonged to someone else; Fear – taking the things people fear and don’t understand and feeding them to build hate; Anger – emphasizing the need to protect against those whom we fear and destroying before we are destroyed.

There is injustice all around us on varying scales (from the employer who fattens his bank account while his workers struggle to exist on minimum wage, to a race of people who were driven from place to place and almost destroyed). It becomes easier, I guess, when we don’t see others as human as ourselves. So, we degrade them, call them names, remind ourselves that they are not like us, and as in “Lakota Woman” we call the people we don’t know or understand – savages; in “Avatar” – monkeys; we call our blacks the “N” word; our women the “B” word and everyday it becomes easier for injustice and violation to abound.

After seeing “Avatar” I remember thinking that I will never view war in the same way, and though I believe there are some battles that needed and still need to be fought, and this memorial day I honor the men and women who gave and are giving their lives for freedom and the fight against injustice, I believe that some battles are founded on greed, hatred and division.

So as our soldiers bravely fight our battles overseas may we look around us and willingly face the challenges that need to be confronted in our midst. Where we see injustice and others being violated in our workplaces, our homes, our neighborhoods, our entertainment, and even in our churches may we fight not with the destructive weapons of guns and bombs but may we speak out against it, call it out so it does not remain hidden and live out justice because this indeed is worthwhile warfare.

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