We grieve the terror and tragedy carried out in the Middle East. It is horribly, painfully awful. Every step to a militant response will heal nothing, rather compound the number of lives ruined.
How are we surprised? Considering the decades of deprivation in Palestinian lives, the lack of food or adequate shelter, of medical care, educational or recreational opportunity, how are we surprised? That such an eruption of violence was planned and carried out? After years and years of deprivation, hunger, confinement and blockade carried out against the people, what should we expect?
Hamas organized a horror of attacks. There is so much grief. Did the world expect them to live passively forever in those conditions? Is this explosion a surprise? This situation of gross and tragic retaliation.
War will bring no solution, only create more tragedy and grief. The disasters cannot be undone or even avenged by more violence. Perpetrators must be contained. The circumstances that led to these murderous attacks must be stopped, not repeated, neither retaliated.
Grace Braley
Portland
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