It isn't my usual style in this medium to take on politics or big controversial world issues. But I am trying it out. After recent world events, this is my way of carefully inserting my filtered voice into the global internet shouting match.
The only other time I've really stated political views was in conjunction with my trip to Israel in 2009. (Read that here.)
A few years ago, my favorite phrase to use was "Fightin' the good fight!" when people asked me how it was going. It always got a good response. But nowadays, my feelings about that phrase have gone from delighted to disturbed.
Humans were created with a desire to create conflict, therefore fight, and therefore win.
Terrorists cause unwarranted pain on innocent civilians because they are "fighting" for their particular beliefs.
Non-terrorists people of the world "fight" back by living their lives, not letting fear prevent them from going about their normal routines.
Both sides think they are right in the process of fighting.
While it seems clear to each side who is right and who is wrong, violence often leaves no choice in how to handle it, except to fight.
But isn't the point, in the end, for everyone not to have to fight?
So I wonder, without any particular religious context, what it would look like to just stop fighting. People helping each other more? Welcoming in those who need help without question? Doing more yoga? Eating vegetarian? Creating more art?
By asking these questions with no real answers, maybe I'm a pacifist. Maybe I'm weak. I don't know. One thing I do know is that being a musician makes real sense in times like these.
I'll end with more questions then.
Can you win without fighting?
Has peace ever existed?
And all in all, what really is the good fight?
