Haiku: Where Is Our Humanity?
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Haiku: Where Is Our Humanity? – Collage of Refugees worldwide
We sit, stare, at horror shows…
Lives maimed, wasted, at war zones
Children blown apart…
A day of bloodshed
Planes falling from “friendly” skies.
Human carnage, grows…
A night of anguish
Mothers hold dying loved ones.
Mourning engulfs us …
Faces of conflict
Refugees from everywhere
Exits blur entries…
We watch, in silence
Where is our humanity?
Mothers, babies, killed…
Leo Tolstoy said, “The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.”Are we doing a good job serving humanity? Like many of you, I feel equally challenged by the horrific events happening around the world. War, epidemics, hunger, loss of life, poverty, refugee populations growing every day. I don’t want to lose faith in humanity, but how do we ever justify the death of innocent people? How do we ever explain the “rationale” for shooting down commercial airlines? How do we explain the endless conflicts and wars to our children?
Each day I see a news report of another life lost, another child hurt, another futile battle fought, another senseless act of wickedness inflicted on humanity, I feel the pain of loved ones and cry along with them. We can choose to pretend it’s happening elsewhere, but it’s happening everywhere and our silence won’t make the atrocities go away. Where is our humanity? When did our beautiful earth turn so ugly?
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“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” Desmond Tutu
Haiku: Where is our humanity? – Apotheosis of War Image
We wait, wonder, why?
As darkness shrouds Mother Earth
Homes torn asunder…
A day of hatred
Loved ones, slaughtered, shot to death
Tears falling, hearts pierced…
A night of terror
Bombs, bullets, missiles wake us
Has HOPE’s end begun?…
Children of conflict…
Refugees from here and there
Each, a story shared…
We wail, wretched world
Where is our humanity?
Wounded by our loss…
I fear our collective silence, even feigned ignorance, will destroy us. Why can’t we gather at the proverbial negotiation table and resolve our differences; not for us, but for our children, refugees, and for generations to come. As warring and discontent ravage some parts of our globe, and hunger, poverty, and frightening epidemics, decimate other parts of our community, we must stop and remember that we are all Family…
Can’t we just work harder to get along? As I watched James Foley’s parents and friends mourn their son, my heart hurt for them. We can’t, should never condone the killing of children, women, and innocent bystanders. My position is strictly from my heart. As a mother, I feel the weight and pain of those who have lost loved ones, and I mourn their losses. We need a new and better way of viewing each other and the world we share. What about you? What are your thoughts? What views do you have on war and peace? If work was optional in our lives, would we serve other more or less? Do share! Thank you. 🙂
For More: Women’s Lives & Issues
Positive Motivation Tip: War must remain the last resort to resolving dispute and only after all feasible channels to peace have been thoroughly exhausted… Let’s champion Peace.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos: The Apotheosis of War (1871) by Vasily Vereshchagin, Refugees, via Wikipedia
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
A gorgeous thought provoking post. I can truly relate as I think about this all the time. I wish more people did too.
I know you do… and then some. Hope your last trip abroad was productive?
Thanks Elizabeth! I loved Ethiopia so much. There is something magical about Africa. I love the people and know I will spend more time there someday. 🙂
Leo Tolstoy said, “The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.” How to best do it, this is the question.
Indeed. I think it will have to begin with each of us holding ourselves accountable.
I also do not understand why we cant all just get along. We shouldn’t focus on race. We are all human, we are all the same.
Lisa, we are all members of the human race and our diversity is equally important. I wish we could honor each and every religion, race, region and all that makes this world diverse and beautiful. Until we acknowledge and respect our diversity, getting along will be a challenge.
I believe that humanity is good. We have have some bad people, but I think the majpoirty of the 7billion people on earth want to help others.
I agree. Man is essentially good. The evil ones suck up our oxygen with their irrational behavior and endless shouting.
This is what happens when one ideology tries to force its will on people no matter what those people already believe. It has happened since the dawn of man and I fear it will always be.
Sad but true. We live in an increasingly selfish world. My prayer is for compassion and consideration of our fellow men and women.
Well written and it should be a great concern for all of us. I know there is still some good in humanity, but I believe it comes from my faith in God.
Like you, my faith sustains me too. There is good and we need to see even more of it.
Beautifully Said & So Very True War Must Be Our Last Resort. I Hate Watching The News Its Always Bad News Its Depressing Wish We Could Do More AS Individuals That’s Why I’m Always Kind To ALL!!
I do hope we can all find ways to give back and help others. The news can be a downer true…
Gandhi was wrong. A few drops of dirt in an ocean makes for a dirty ocean by definition. Thing is, that dirt doesn’t corrupt the rest of the water.
I’m sorry, you missed Gandhi’s point. The ocean, like humanity and all in it, is vast. A few drops of dirt or evil cannot taint the entire ocean or world. An apple tree doesn’t become polluted because a few apples are rotten.
The strife in our world is difficult to see and endure. Sadly, for all of us who want to make a change, there are still so many who oppose that change. I continue to pray that God will touch those people’s hearts and affect change from within.
I agree. We live in a contentious, myopic world and your prayer is mine.
My heart breaks for the Foleys. Oh, how my heart hurts for them. My son is in the military and I am terrified that he might be sent over there. Since you asked for our thoughts, I can offer a few right now. War should definitely be a last resort, after all other options have been exhausted; however, sometimes war is necessary in order to achieve a greater degree of peace in the world. If those who have the resources to stop the madness don’t step in, there is no telling how far these terrorists will go. I worry that 9/11 is only an example of what they can do. I find comfort in scripture and if you are familiar with the Matt Walsh blog, he has some great insight and offers great advice about how to handle the horrors happening in the world around us.
I hear you Tina and send prayers for divine protection for your son and all the servicemen/women abroad. Sadly, those with the resources have, in the past, armed some of these groups and so, if peace is to be a lasting option, we must all act to that end. War, by itself, never achieves peace; it creates oppressive memories and hatreds. Negotiations and agreements have achieved some modicum of peace. I find comfort in same and will check out Matt Walsh’s blog. TY!
This is deep. Thank you for sharing your poems.
Oh wow! This was so beautifully written and i coudn’t agree more with it. I guess for myself I’m at a sense of loss and since I alone have no solution to the senseless acts of violence on people a world away, I tend to turn it off. My five year old has already started asking questions about what he sees on the news and since my heart hurts for everyone these senseless crimes affect, I end up being overwhelmed knowing I am powerless and turn on something happier just to protect my children’s innocence. Its not that I don’t care..its just that I know that if the big people can’t negotiate with these terrorists, I know the only solution is erase them from this earth, but how do you do that and also spread love? I don’t know. Very insightful post that really hit home for me.
Thank you Heather for your honest and reflective reply. I feel powerless too and find comfort in my faith and writings. My haiku is about all the inhumane events around the world. Not all are from terrorism. Some are created by abusive leaders, greedy corporations, mismanagement of resources, hatreds, religious intolerance and more. We need compassionate and transparent leadership in our world.
It’s posts like this that restore faith in humanity. Thank you for taking the time to spread some perspective.
Thank you Ben for adding your voice to this post. I’m strengthened by your comment.
Your haiku are perfect to describe these atrocities, I just so wish they were impossible to write. How can this keep happening Eliz?
TY Gilly! We have to do our little bit to uplift others wherever we are. Some of the stuff in the news is frightening to read; the ethnic cleansing, the bombings and killing of innocents. We can only do our positive piece to give voice to those who no longer speak for themselves.
“My position is strictly from my heart.” The only position there should be. But, unfortunately, this is not how all view the world. How do we deal with those who are mad, bloodthirsty, intent on killing? I don’t know…
TY Bluebee! I don’t know either… We do our part and pray our global community weighs in too. I’m glad you picked up on that line because it pains me to see the death of children and innocent people being politicized….
Wow, I absolutely love that first quote. For some reason it really speaks to me. Now, to find a craft to incorporate it in my daily life! Thank you for sharing.
What a great haiku very touching and really makes you think about things going on in the world we live in.
Thank you! I think about these things every day. As a mom, I’d like to see my kids inherit a safer, more caring world.
Thanks for the great post. We would all be a lot better off if we just all worked together.
Sadly, we don’t. But we can all do our part to create positive change.
this is so sad to read. I don’t know why we all can’t just leave each other be and try to enjoy the miracle of life. So sad.
It’s sad… Some folk don’t get it. Some want all of us to think and be like them. Such a position is impossible in our diverse world.
Oh Elizabeth, these are powerfully written. Your words tear at my heart.
Thank you C! I have been deeply disturbed by all the stuff going on… My heart especially hurts for the children.
I do wish peace was a top priority for everyone. It’d be so nice to not have to worry about a lack of humanity. I love the Gandhi quote at the top.
I wish same… and maybe one day we will get there.
I wish everyone was on the same page with this. It seems so logical to not have war, but sadly I don’t think peace will ever be worldwide.
It does seem so logical and yet some prefer warring instead. I remain hopeful.
It’s sad how the world has changed throughout the years, not as many people care for each other any more.
What saddens me more is that so many people don’t understand that until we realize the common bond we share, we will not prosper fully in this world.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful words. Something we should all keep in mind.
I hope and pray we do…
What a great post about humanity. I love your analogy of humanity be the ocean. Thanks for sharing.
Imagine all the people living life in peace.
Well written post. Thanks for the information i have a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing.
Quite a bit to think about. I think most people are good people. Unfortunately the bad ones are the ones who get the attention and make the headlines.
True… and that is why we shouldn’t remain silent.
What a great look into their eyes of what they are seeing. The kids do not know any better and just look so normal.
It is really depressing that society can sink so low like that. These are very well written!
Such powerful words and pictures. I totally understand and feel your passion!
If there’s one thing that I want to wish right now, it’s World Peace! I know this is very hard to attain but this can save the humanity and the future generation.
So few understand that our purpose here is to serve others. There have been centuries of injustices to both man and nations and now we see the costs of man’s inhumanity to man.
Reblogged this on frijasroxanne.
Thank you. Appreciated!
Beautiful inspiration my friend. A hope in a world badly needing one. Yes, there may be so much bad things happening around us but there so much good as well. Regardless of what we see or what we experienced, we should never loose our humanity and capacity to give, share, love, care and forgive. We are here for a reason and it’s for a bigger, greater purpose.
True! We live in a very selfish world with folks who think the way to get ahead is by hurting or standing on others or taking short cuts. That said, there is still a lot of good in the world too and my hope is that we all make a bit more effort. TY for checking in.
This is thought provoking. Thanks for sharing. It’s definitely “Food for thought”.
Your words really make you think about what is going on in the world today. So many wars that are being fought, but do the fighters even know why they’re fighting?
What a very thought provoking post.
We are all made equal and children of God. The choices we make – reflect our environment and upbringing. I pray for world peace <3
beautifully said ~ you have a real knack for writing
Thank you for sharing this message. Very emotional but important to understand.
The message is so very true. I wish people being more human, more open, more feeling, softer and calmer. I really like it. Your haiku is written nicely as well.