It Ought To Be Simple

  The Watchman’s Prayer The watchman's thoughts, up on the wall,  Battles? Conquest?  Kingdom’s fall? No, just that this dark watch would end,  and homeward safe to hearth, to friends:  His simple cares. As slow the night watch crawls toward dawn,  he spots a doe who with her fawn. from darkened woods to greener hills, risk new grass, and warm his chill in too-still air. Is he noble, braving cold if all he prays is night’s patrol would come back safely, friends in line,  swords still clean, none left behind? This watchman’s prayer Please set, blood moon, where arrows fly. Be still, shrill horns and battle cries Pray, be fevered, dark kings and crowns Heed your augurs, “fleets will drown”            Furl your sails He braids in starlight, three-strand cords, weaves a promise from his Lord  His heart beats “peace” on those ramparts. Sleep sound and know that this watchman’s heart.  guards d...

Peace In Gaza: A Lesson From History    World leaders have no consensus on an endgame in Gaza.    They call for ceasefires, “pauses”, prisoner swaps, “proportionality”, and “humanitarianism” but these are not goals.   They are measures.   Every world leader is trying to manage their own self-interests, as well they should be expected to.     So I offer an example from recent history of one country’s solution to terrorism in its midst, to the taking of hostages, and a terrorist invasion across its borders.   It is NOT an original plan... it is an ARAB plan:   the plan enacted by Jordan in September 1970.   It is called Black September:   the peace plan offered to a chartered terrorist group:   release all hostages, surrender, and leave.   It caused tens of thousands of civilian casualties, ruinous bombardment of their homes, and thousands of deaths of terrorist combatants.   Photo:  Pales...