Give peace to every heart. Give peace to every heart. Give peace, Lord. Give peace, Lord. (Latin) Da pacem cordium. Da pacem cordium. Da pacem. Da pacem. |
Taize Christian Community Chorus
Years ago we watched the Iranian film A Separation about a middle-class couple who part ways and the effect it has on their family. It won Best Foreign Film at the Oscars and was a reminder that a country many of regard as an "evil empire" is made up of people trying to figure out life under an oppressive regime. Iran's leadership is authoritarian and uses Islamic fundamentalism as a one of the tools in it's kit for control of a populace that largely wishes for societal freedoms. There was a day when women had greater autonomy and could pursue careers. Now every effort to protest stifling control is crushed and even mild resistance results in imprisonment and death.
In addition Iran has funded terrorism around the world and particularly Hamas and Hezbollah.
Still, as we watch the bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites and the homes of military leaders we need to keep in mind the millions of people who are living in fear and terror within Iran. Most of them have no place to go, The encouragement by Israel and the United States for those people to rise up against the government are disingenuous at best. The comment by Vice-President Vance that this is not a war on the Iranian people is fatuous and perhaps he knows it.
The worship service at Trenton United yesterday was on the theme of peace, in music and contemplative moments. We had the opportunity to come forward and light a candle for the situations, personal and global we wanted to hold before God and Jesus, Prince of Peace. I asked Ruth later about her candle and she said that her prayer was for the civilians, children and women particularly, of Iran.
I hope we can include the people of Iran in our prayers for peace in the Middle East and our troubled world.
2 comments:
That photo reminded me that there had been "another Iran" before the Islamist Revolution. In the time the photo of the women parliamentarians was taken, The Shah of Iran -- Mohammad Reza Pahlavi -- was a modernizer. My father visited Iran in the mid 1960's as part of an Ontario delegation related to highway building. He was offerd a position there in the government. What a life experience that woud have been ! KB
That's an interesting snapshot of your own family history, Kathy, sparked by the photo. What might have been! My closest friend in highschool pack-packed through Europe around the time that photo was taken. He ended up driving a Mercedes as part of a convoy going from Germany to Tehran. He "owned" the vehicle as a way around importation laws and sold it to the dealership. The convoy leaders had his passport throughout the journey.
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