Can We Find A Peaceful Solution?
by Will Espero
The October attack against Israel by Hamas was horrific and tragic. We saw many innocent people slaughtered as Hamas kidnapped many civilians for their manipulation and future negotiations.
The surprise attack caught the Israeli government off guard, and its military response was swift, destructive, and brutal.
I do believe the Israelis had the right to defend themselves, although the death and carnage in Gaza was “overkill” in my opinion with thousands of Palestinian children and adult casualties.
Sadly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing my whole life as other wars and conflicts with U.S. involvement have come and gone–Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan to name a few.
Unfortunately, the current situation with the Israelis and the Palestinians seems to have no end in sight. With Israel being a strong Middle Eastern ally of the United States, the possibility of our country being pulled into a regional conflict is real.
My son is an officer in US Marines and my daughter-in-law is an officer in the US Army so my concerns are personal and immediate.
The last outcome our nation wants is an expanded regional war where our men and women are in harm’s way, and after a long war in Afghanistan, I’m certain the American people do not want more war or an increased presence in the Middle East.
With that said, will there ever be peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis? Time will tell, but a two-nation solution is needed now with support from all peace-seeking nations.
Our world needs leaders who understand the need for peace, and I know this is easier said than done.
However, I’m tired of seeing hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars spent on weapons, wars, and ally’s problems when we have so many domestic problems and calamities which need to be addressed.
I know how the world works and am not naive or uneducated about the realities of humanity. Sadly, there are many evil and greedy leaders and individuals in this world, and thus, the role of the United States has been to be the beacon for freedom, justice, and democracy.
I do support the global position the United States has taken over the years and decades, but I wish we had the leaders to bring peace to the Middle East. The former president and his son-in-law tried but failed.
President Biden now has a chance to make an impact even though he has been steadfast in his support for Israel.
President Biden has the opportunity to make a difference in the Middle East and effectuate lasting peace. As a politician who has been around for over 40 years, he should have an understanding of the plight of both the Palestinians and the Israelis.
If by a miracle and hard work, he can bring the proper leaders and people together, Biden can create a legacy of peacemaker in a region of the world that has a significant influence on our nation’s quality of life.
I’m guessing that many leaders don’t expect the president to have much success in any peace-seeking initiative. But imagine if he did. Imagine if the October 7th attack on Israel led to a real effort to find, implement, and begin a lasting peace.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah, President Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and other key leaders have a chance to do the impossible.
For the sake of humanity, I hope they can take the terrible and atrocious incidents of the last two months and find the silver lining that has been so elusive.
John Lennon’s lyrics to his hit song, “Imagine,” are so relevant and appropriate for today’s world:
“You may say I’m a dreamer… But I’m not the only one… I hope someday you’ll join us… And the world will live as one.”
The holiday season is upon us, and many celebrations and parties are planned and expected.
Please be smart and use common sense when celebrating with friends and family. Do not drink and drive, use designated drivers, or hire someone from a driver’s app like Uber or Lyft.
Let’s all be safe and do what’s right during the holidays, and don’t forget to remember those more needy than us. It is better to give than to receive.
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WILL ESPERO retired from the Hawaii legislature after serving 19 years in the state House of Representatives and state Senate. He is currently a novelist, poet, and supporter of the arts. Lingering Thoughts provides a glimpse of his perspective on current events and issues.
