Four thousand American soldiers have been killed in Iraq. Precise figures for the numbers of Iraqis killed are not available for political reasons - neither the US nor the current Iraqi government wants to detail the full scale of civilian deaths - but they likely run into the hundreds of thousands: a massive humanitarian disaster. And the prospects for something like a reasonable political outcome, one that might minimally justify the horrible human cost, remain bleak. Violence is moving up again as the current US military strategy again fails to reach a workable political settlement. All in all, it is an unmitigated catastrophe, one that reminds us of the general futility of war.
Auspicious weapons are tools of misfortune.
Things may not all despise such tools,
but a master of Way stays clear of them.
The noble-minded treasure the left when home
and the right when taking up weapons of war.
Weapons are tools of misfortune,
not tools of the noble-minded.
When there's no other way,
they take up weapons with tranquil calm,
finding no glory in victory.
To find glory in victory
is to savor killing people,
and if you savor killing people
you'll never guide all beneath heaven.
We honor the left in celebrations
we honor the right in lamentations,
so captains stand on the left
and general on the right.
but use them both as if conducting a funeral:
when so many people are being killed
it should be done with tears and mourning.
And victory too should be conducted like a funeral.
Tao Te Ching, 31
Whatever happens in Iraq, however the terrible violence ends, for it must at some point, we should always remember that there is no glory in "victory."
"And victory too should be conducted like a funeral."
What a poignant and moving sentiment, thank you for a great post, Sam. Sadly, I fear we still have many more funerals to go.
Posted by: Jeremiah | March 25, 2008 at 07:35 PM