April 10—Although there are times when there is no apparent alternative to armed conflict—consider the American Revolution, the Allied response in World War II, or Russia’s ongoing operation in Ukraine—the most potent means for retaliating against the grave injustices and threat of war in the world today is to galvanize people around a vision for the future. Even the most careful study of the origins of the evils and foolishness besetting contemporary humanity will be useless without a clear presentation of an alternative.
King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, and President Emmanuel Macron of France have co-written an opinion piece in a major U.S. legacy newspaper. “The war in Gaza and the catastrophic humanitarian suffering it is causing must end now,” they begin. “Violence, terror and war cannot bring peace to the Middle East. The two-state solution will.”
Macron’s co-authorship of this letter is significant.
Former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to the mainland of China concluded with a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders spoke of peaceful cooperation, of their shared respect for the legacy of Sun Yat-sen, and of increasing tourism and person-to-person interactions across the Strait, a key factor in creating understanding.
This visit will help reduce cross-Strait tensions.
Tucker Carlson brought onto his program Palestinian Lutheran pastor Rev. Munther Isaac from Bethlehem. Reverend Isaac presented a damning picture of the utter hypocrisy of those Americans who profess to be followers of Jesus but act in a way that is the opposite of His teachings. The religious right in the U.S. spout off grand opinions about Israel and Gaza, he said, but their views are “shallow”—they know nothing about the situation on the ground, nothing about Palestinian history, or the history of the region. Do they help Palestinian Christians with money? No, Reverend Isaac said. They give money to Israel and its military. “We plead for the opportunity to be heard,” he said, and to let these Americans, with a “theology” of Christian Zionism and the “end times,” know “how damaging their activity is.”
This interview could bring much needed awareness to the Christian community in the United States, who, by their actions, many of them unwitting, are contributing to the explosive situation in Israel and Palestine.
Regarding Ukraine, China has been gathering support in many parts of the world for its 12-point peace perspective, and sources have reported that a breakthrough may be possible. This would certainly be good news, although a full victory for peace in Ukraine requires a change in U.S. policy. By integrating the area in its broader concept of cooperative development through the Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese proposal brings a serious orientation toward the future.
This week’s solar eclipse caused many along its path to lift their eyes to the heavens, to marvel together and share the camaraderie of relating to other people in terms of that which makes us human. May our eyes remain lifted to a future of our creation. And may we have the strength to remain committed to creating a future worthy of the human species.
This weekend’s conference on the LaRouche Oasis Plan will be a magnificent opportunity to look upward, from the darkest depths, to a bright future—a future that will be achieved only through a fight, but which requires a peaceful intent.
