Joe Gannon: Story on spreading peace message ‘depressing’

Glenn Carstens-Peters/StockSnap

Published: 10-02-2024 6:48 PM

How truly depressing to see on the front page another story [“‘Women of vision’ spread peace message,” Gazette, Sept. 27] about another group that cares deeply about something or someone, but refuses to engage in “politics” and instead goes all in on some touchy-feely notion of being or connecting while people still suffer, and the war goes on and on.

The story read like a lesson in utter helplessness, hopelessness and cluelessness in a volatile and violent world. A retreat from our fellow humans, not an embrace of them.

I guess it might have some value for the valley bourgeoise — those whose lives of affluence occasionally get knocked for six because of the always intruding “news” about “politics.”

The avoidance of the very thing that causes repeated wars in Palestine seems to me a simple surrender, and acknowledgment that the war between Israelis and Palestinians must go on endlessly.

So instead of throwing up their hands and admitting they can have no impact on a lasting peace, folks do what? Mix soil, dance, pray and cry?

No thank you. I’d rather face head on that the killing in the Middle East will go on and on and on endlessly, and that no one really wants it to stop, as in a peace settlement, because “politics” is too hard.

At least that acknowledgment will keep me honest, and not allow me to unload my responsibility through empty rituals.

Joe Gannon

Easthampton