ADDENDUM

Well, Julia’s now a master teacher at a high school in San Mateo County, teaching 11th grade English and is head of the school’s visual arts department, doing well teaching and raising her two adopted girls, the oldest of whom is presently enrolled at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, in her second year and in the honors program. The youngest is now a sophomore in a local high school, and is an A student.

But what do I think regarding The Middle East and the present hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip? When I first visited Israel, I was able to travel  throughout the country including the Old City, all quarters, East Jerusalem, The West Bank, really driving through Arab occupied lands. The Gaza Strip and just throughout the land. Arabs and Jews seemed to get along okay with each other and prosper. Not today, where there are demonstrations, killings and generally just turmoil. In my 92 years, I have concluded that mankind is composed of human beings that are basically animals. To me  humans are a predatory and tribal animal akin to a wolf pack composed of tribal attitudes, History to me illustrates that from the beginning of the human race man was divided into tribes perennially at war with each other from the beginning of time to the present, where one group is at war with the other just like other animals fighting for space and dominance. Nationality, or whatever you want to call it. History continually pits one group, one nation constantly against the other. Countries in Europe, according to our history books, have revolving foes and allies, Example- Crusaders vs……..War, millions killed, then Germany against France , Great Britain, then peace, League of Nations to prefecture wars, The League’s demise, World War 2 US and allies, including The Soviet Union as allies against Germany, Italy and Japan. Then the creation of The United Nations with Japan and the USSR  and the Eastern Bloc as enemies and on and on.  Religion, fighting and killing in the name of religion, goes on constantly without end. So, I give up and do not see any light at the end of the chaotic tunnel, but just more wars, young men and women killed to satisfy their so-called leaders, then periods of  peace with new generations starting wars all over again. I give up as I see no hope for a peaceful future. Sorry, but that is how I see the Mideast problem as the so -called leaders will never work for peace. Can’t predict the future, but all I see is turmoil. I I had my way, I would cede the West Bank to the Palestinians, work together for a common cause and I believe once they have a sovereign country, they will fight to keep it. But, won’t happen as Hamas has as its basic tenet the destruction of Israel. No route or negotiation, plus the Israeli religious Right claims all the land, including the West Bank as God-given, so you tell me how to resolve the conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians, Christian Europe along with North and South America vs the Muslim world and nations. You don’t have to agree with me, and I respect different opinions, but the so-called leaders, for whatever reason, prevent peace, and I just don’t see mankind ever at a permanent and respectful peace.

Marshall