Mr. Yokem responded to a number of points I made. I expressed my
understanding and he expressed his. I know that I was speaking in good faith
and I can only assume that he was also. Since the arguments I made
originally were based on political reasons that this war is wrong and not
the moral ones why every war is wrong, I am ready to cede every point.

As I have said, on numerous occasions, my main objection to this war is that
it is war. I am opposed to all war. I am especially saddened by wars that
are nothing more than a cheap excuse to show who has more testosterone.

While preparing my response to Mr. Yokem, a thought occurred to me. It may
not be an epiphany but I realized that intellectuals, fight with "facts."
Not all testosterone battles involve weapons. My need to have a "killer"
argument is as morally reprehensible as the combatant's need to have a
"killer" weapon. I am no better than those I disparage if my all I seek is
to prove that *I* am right to the exclusion of others.

Reflection on one's own motivations needs to be done before any attempt to
act in truth can be undertaken. This is especially true when dealing with
what other people are doing, should do, might do. Without this reflection,
the self becomes the object of the act and not truth; helping others becomes
secondary to helping yourself. Upon reflection, I cannot honestly say that I
am acting on purely non-self serving motives. My thanks to Mr. Yokem and
others that have helped me swallow this hard dose of reality.

I will continue to use the word Peace as often as I can. I do believe that
just reading, seeing and saying the word Peace has a power to bring Peace
into our lives. I may attempt to spread the message further if I can do so
without it being an act of self-aggrandizement.

I am sure that the message of Peace is a sound one. We need to live in
Peace. I would, therefore, ask you to look at the truth of message and
forget the meagerness of the messenger.

Let Peace be the maxim by which we act because we will Peace to become a
universal law.
Work For Peace
The opinions expressed herein are my own and not necessarily those of my
employer.
Yosef Rosenblatt

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