An Arab terrorist decided to drive his car into a group of soldiers tonight. I had been close to that location earlier tonight. Although, I probably wouldn’t have been at the specific spot; I can’t help but think what would have happened if I was.
Why can’t they stop? I feel such a deep sadness for people who have no other reason to live than to take others’ lives. I don’t want to postulate but how is that a life at all? Doesn’t that strike any one of these people as odd? We have a concept in Judaism of sacrificing one’s life and concepts about nation superiority, and selectivity – but our lives as a whole are not about these concepts. What I’ve come to understand is that our lives are valuable individually and collectively and that our lives should be elevated through consistent and constant behaviors and beliefs. There is so much more to say here but I don’t want to pontificate too much.. The point of this philosophical ramble is that I don’t comprehend these actions as a general. I hurt for people who only live to die. There is so much more.
The other day, a friend of mine said that life is about suffering and you just need to get through it. One of my favorite authors penned the line “Every rising sun only leads you closer to your inevitable dusk.” While these points are true, while we are dying as we live and there is much suffering in life – isn’t there more to look for? I yearn to accomplish in my life. I yearn to do something that matters. There are great things that happen nowadays – why can’t we say life is about overcoming suffering and experiencing joy?
Maybe my naivete is showing. Maybe I’m just not as smart as I would like to be here. But why can’t every terrorist just stop for a second and honestly evaluate: should this suicide really be my purpose for living?
