by Cheryl Batavia

We Long for Peace

Photo by Motoki Tonn from Unsplash

We Long for Peace

Terrorist Revenge

Hamas militants,

trained and funded by Iran,

waging holy war.

Long-term resentments ignite…

rage vented in violence!

Israeli Civilians Suffer

Terrorist attacks,

Many civilians slaughtered…

elders and children.

Atrocities committed,

hostages carried away.

Palestinian Civilians Suffer

Retaliation.

Food, water, power withheld.

Civilians have died.

Buildings obliterated.

Civilians seeking escape.

Dreams of Empire

Would-be Russian Czar,

unbridled lust for power

and dreams of empire…

His own people pay the price

for war on peaceful neighbors.

Ukrainian Civilians Suffer

Conflict continues.

Ukrainians fight against

brutal invasion.

Homes and villages destroyed.

Civilian casualties mount.

Russian Civilians Suffer

Reluctant conscripts,

ill-equipped and poorly trained,

fathers, brothers, sons

dying for the ambitions

of one man bent on conquest.

War is Always with Us

People long for peace,

Some succumb to greed, hate, and

fanaticism.

Others must defend themselves…

A World at war longs for peace.

Copyright© 2023 by Cheryl Batavia

War Crimes

War crimes are defined by an international law called the Geneva Conventions, ratified by all member nations of the United Nations. War crimes have been reported to have been committed by Russia against Ukraine and by both sides in the War between Hamas Militants and Israel. This is a partial list of war crimes.

  1. Attacking civilian targets, assaulting and killing civilians
  2. Destroying buildings used for purposes of religion, education, art, science, and charitable organizations. Also, historic monuments and hospitals
  3. Intentional starvation of civilians or impeding delivery of relief supplies to civilians
  4. Kidnapping and hostage-taking of civilians, use of civilians as human shields
  5. Rape, forced prostitution, and sexual slavery
  6. Torture

Threats have been made by Russia to use nuclear weapons. Other forbidden weapons include poison gas and biological warfare.

References

United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect

Topics: Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes, and Ethnic Cleasning

United Nations Commission of Inquiry

This commission is investigating evidence of war crimes committed by all sides in Israel and occupied Palestinian territories since 7 October 2023.

Israel is being investigated for witholding food, water, electricity, and fuel in Gaza.

Hamas is under investigation for gunning down unarmed civilians, taking civilian hostages, and using civilians as human shields.

66 Comments

      1. Unknown's avatar

        You’re so very welcome Cheryl. It spelled things out perfectly and it most certainly is emotionally is. My words are still tongue tied but I’m sure they will make there way out.. I just hope it’s not just 🤮 I’m sick about it all as is everyone I know❣️

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Unknown's avatar

        You have summed up my exact sentiments, Cheryl! The question remains, if we all want peace, how can we have that when we’re blowing each other up. How many more years must we wait and what good is our land and money if we’re dead and can’t enjoy it. Thanks Cheryl. I hope our our friends from Israel and Palestine are ok as well. 💕

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Unknown's avatar

        You are very welcome, Cheryl, and yes it is. 😔 The news became too much for me during the pandemic. Now I limit my reading to what feels most relevant. It’s a balance, isn’t it? Warm regards. 🌻

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Unknown's avatar

    As you so accurately captured, atrocities abound. The problem is it doesn’t stop at the instigators rather extends to the complicit media, weak leaders and those not held accountable for bad decisions and outright greed. I don’t know what the answers are and certainly can’t predict the outcomes of the world on fire – what I do know is something must change or the savages will be emboldened.

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      These problems began long before our birth. I think many cultures have much longer timelines than we do. The hatreds and resentments simmer along for many generations with varying degrees of justification for their grievances. What disturbs me most is the brutality and the targeting of non-combatants…elderly people, disabled people, babies, and children. These are war crimes, and those responsible need to be held accountable. As you say, we don’t want to embolden the “savages.” Thank you, Brian for sharing your thoughts. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, JM, for your insightful comment, I truly wish humanity could move beyond war and violence. We teach our children to treat others as we wish to be treated, but then we follow greedy and power-hungry leaders into battle. Yes, the “sufferer is always the common man.”

      I believe, as you say, “Our solidarity to condemn any terrorist act” is the beginning of eliminating the brutality.

      Liked by 2 people

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  12. Unknown's avatar

    Mahatma Gandhi had said ‘ An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind ‘. Deeply appreciate your post. There is nothing more tragic or senseless as war because humanity suffers collectively.

    Liked by 2 people

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  13. Unknown's avatar

    Thank you for sharing this, Cheryl. Hope your message is spread around the globe and people understand the meaning of Peace which is a longing. Are not people tired of fighting? Can’t we consider each human to be the same like us? Feels like a dream.

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you so much for your meaningful comment, Kritika. I agree with every word! ❤ ❤ ❤

      It's unbelievable the hatred and brutality of these two conflicts! I wonder if anyone who commits such horrific atrocities can ever be at peace again. There is an International Court but it takes years for the most aggreious violators to be tried.

      Liked by 1 person

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  15. Unknown's avatar

    I wish you didn’t have to write this, but unfortunately you do, and you’ve don’t it so powerfully. Well done Cheryl, it’s good to show both sides too because whatever you believe in, the regular citizens suffer the most. Maggie

    Liked by 2 people

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  16. Unknown's avatar

    So unfortunate! You have rightly summed up what is going on, but as you concluded, World at war longs for peace. Insanity and cruelty will kill the humanity.
    Aristotle had said, “Man is a social animal.” If you remove “social” from this sentence, just see what is left.
    Thank you, Cheryl, for raising a concern, a concern of the majority.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Unknown's avatar

      As Anne Frank famously wrote in her diary while living in her hiding place during World War II, “I believe that people are basically good.” Even though she later died in a concentration camp, I don’t believe she would ever have changed her mind about that. It is a small minority who seem to have lost their humanity.

      Thank you, KK, for sharing your thoughts. I agree that the atrocities being committed are evidence of a loss of humanity. The “insanity and cruelty” have been going on for a long time.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Unknown's avatar

        Thank you, Cheryl! I agree with you and Anne Frank that culprit is small minority, but as I have stated in one of my earlier posts, the silent majority who don’t protest against the heinous acts of small minority are no less culprit.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Ritish, for your thoughtful comment. ❤ Though a few may profit from these conflicts, the common people have little to gain. I like your word "compassion." There is a danger of becoming complacent as the wars drag on, but we need to continue to care.

      Wishing you a peaceful and blissful weekend! ❤

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      Reply

    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Filipa, for your very kind response. I deeply appreciate your ongoing support. ❤

      These wars are a painful subject to write about. I wish there were some answers about how to resolve the issues and bring the conflicts to an end. That would be something I would welcome writing about!

      Wishing you and your family a beautiful and peaceful weekend! ❤ ❤ ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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  21. Unknown's avatar

    The message that the world longs for peace is an important one, seemingly obvious to some of us, but not often voiced as you have done so well. I honestly believe that the vast majority of people do long for peace and so does Mother Earth. Maybe it’s like Martin Luther King said, we need to organize for peace as well as (or better than) those who organize for war.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, David, for reading. It was a difficult topic to write about. I have Ukrainian neighbors, Russian children, Palestinian former students, Jewish family and friends, and I love them all. My first thought when I heard about the attack on Israel was for you and your family! Please stay safe! ❤

      PS. I am not friends with Putin, Hamas, Hezbolla or any of their friends!

      Liked by 1 person

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  26. Unknown's avatar

    sadly war is only about huge profits … they really have little to do with religion or borders … follow the money and you will clearly see who benefits! Not those being so stupidly slaughtered …

    Liked by 2 people

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  29. Unknown's avatar

    Thank you for sharing these poems. There is much pain in the world which can be easy to forget about in our own different part of the world. But some people cannot forget, they live through pain every day. I hope and pray for the peace this world longs for to get closer every day.

    Liked by 1 person

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