May 7th, 2024: Real Sacrifices

Many years ago, a monk walked to the center of a traffic circle, his fellow monks poured gasoline all over his body, and then he was lit up. He sat there and burned to death. He did not even move. He did this to protest against how Buddhists were treated by the government. Everyone was too shocked to cry or to say anything. We might not agree with his reasons or his approach. However, at least he sacrificed himself for the cause he believed in. He did not cause any damage to anyone's property.

Now let us consider the requests of the protesters at Columbia University that were voiced by their spokesperson. First, they asked for their cafeteria meals to be delivered to the building that they had just trashed and vandalized. Then they asked for meals with specific dietary requirements. Are they really that self-serving while claiming that they want to identify with the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza? If they went hungry and thirsty for a few days, they might understand that suffering better.

War is evil and ugly. There is nothing more than plenty of human suffering. Seeking a civilized approach to any war is living in denial. It is never right for children to be killed. It is never civilized to use civilians as shields. God identifies Himself with the suffering from all sides. Christians should do so as well.

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." - John 15:12-13