In a world of wars and hints of peace, there is nothing that lifts us up like our own efforts at ending a conflict, with a chance for stopping the fighting that nobody wanted in the first place. Lies are the preferred way for leaders to deceive parts of humanity into believing that one human life is inherently sacred but another is not. The same leaders and their followers later proclaim their innocence when accused of inhumane attacks on unarmed men, women, and children, but for different reasons. Israel/Gaza and other parts of the Middle East are the new location, now is the time, and rampant murder of men, women, and children is the issue for separating facts from fiction and lies from damned lies. It is a duty better left to writers instead of commanders or theologians.

For comparison, I recalled the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam back in 1968 in which more than 100 innocent men, women, and children were gunned down in a deadly assault by American soldiers on orders from their platoon leader, Lt. William Calley. The time, place and circumstances were different then. I was busy completing my second tour of duty following the My Lai massacre by helping our air warriors kill tens of thousands of Vietnamese from a greater distance than in hand-to-hand combat but in much larger numbers. The Geneva Conventions protected most of us from borderline issues that occurred in that war, while our consciences have offered less and less protection with the passage of time. My brother was a medic performing field surgeries while flying med-evac flights. One day he was transporting a chopper loaded with wounded Marines. One of them noticed a small Asian aboard. He asked if this guy was a Viet Cong. My brother nodded “yes,” whereupon the Marine grabbed the Asian and threw him out of the chopper at an altitude of 500 feet, sans parachute. About 3 seconds later, this incident was a fading memory.

Let’s set the Geneva Conventions aside. Murdering innocent civilians is a violation in any war, regardless of their age, gender, or other circumstances. Some 190 countries are signatories to those minimums. Those who violate the Conventions are subject to trials and any punishment that follows. Most incidents never reach that stage in a conflict. And that brings up the name of Vladimir Putin, the worst possible candidate for the MADest (mutually assured destruction) head of state of the century.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reflected the greed and grab nature of a dictator steeped in the indoctrination of lies, hatred, and injustices. His days are probably numbered as a world leader. The world is witnessing a slaughter in Ukraine unworthy of humanity at every level. Its cruelty is on display for all to see that no amount of blood, sweat, and tears can wash away. Likewise, Hamas is evil incarnate with no country to claim its members, and no country they will not try to claim does.

There is nothing brave or courageous about murdering innocent children in the presence of their parents, or parents in the presence of their children. Such acts are everywhere condemned by persons of honor. They cannot be justified on the grounds of the need to test new weapons of destruction. Putin likes to blame the U.S. for being the first nation to use the atomic bomb. He neglects to mention that the decision makers for that event are now all gone; that his second-hand knowledge of it came to him long after 1945 when U.S. dropped the only A-bombs in its arsenal. Moreover, the US gave Japan the option to avoid unnecessary death and destruction—that their leaders rejected.

War is also not a true test of courage. It takes far more courage, knowledge, and skills to avoid war than to wage one. Avoiding war calls upon a sense of commitment to history, to values, and to posterity. My inner voices tell me those are also the elements of a worthy life.

The war in Israel is based on religion, with God as its centerpiece. If you see something wrong with this picture, we are in agreement. Of that triad, only one side has my attention. The other two sides can fight for their choice.

And so it is with callous indifference that Hamas left the balance of humanity out of their decision to invade Israel and the Gaza strip in their carefully-planned sneak attack with no regard for innocent human life. Such cowardice rips at our humanity stated so eloquently by John Donne with his words: “Any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind; therefore, do not send to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.”

I am not fond of ringing bells, so I am out of here.