Reflections on remembrance

I don't know where I learned or started to believe this, but I believe in the humanity of all people, regardless of the circumstance. This week I am going to read a lot of stories, of history and remembrance. Some of those stories will thank the heavens and god, some will criticize short sighted politicians, and hatred. Many will blame somebody for causing hurt. All will tell a story. 

I think about the human story. Imagine a place where you are doing unspeakable things to people, things that must have gave nightmares and sleepless nights to the people who committed them. This is a Thought for them, for the 19 year old solder who was directly responsible for the ending of a life, for the officer who gives the order, and all the way up the line to the leader and the goal they aspire to. 

The tragedy I see and feel most right now...is for the person (and they are all persons) who sees another person, or culture, or race, as so alien to their own, that they deserve not to be there anymore. That the story they were taught missed so many lessons, and so much love ....Is that a complaint as simple as "you hurt me" gets blown so far out of proportion muffled by the words evil, and drowned out by anger leads to so much pain for so many people, that any of it can be seen as justified. 

The conversation ends, and so does the lesson, and understanding is the victim.

As many as 78 million people died during WWII, number that we hear the most is 6, but there is a story behind every one. 

We need to see ourselves in the stories we hear from both sides to truly understand them. I feel sad for the bombers who dropped the bombs, for the solders who pulled the triggers, for the people on the ground, and the people walking to their knowing ends, I feel sad for person pulling the switch, the horror that they live with, or emptiness that you would need to feel to live with a clear conscience after any of those acts. These are the cultural tragedies. They deserve our understanding, and solemn responsibilities to not let these things happen again. We need to remember that the story does not start with a trigger, and it does not end.

This is our world, and we need to respect that it did not start with us, nor will it end with us.