What happened at the Gaza border

I don't know.  Clashes, protests, threats, violence.  That is what usually happens.  Israel is a small island in a hostile ocean.  Many of its neighbors simply want it gone.  Likewise, like a person holed up in a militia encampment, Israel sometimes reacts with a 'head for an eye' retaliation.   It's highly likely that Hamas, nobody's fool, knows this.  Whipping people into a frenzy so that they storm the fences, knowing Israel will respond with live ammo, and the world will condemn Israel, is as old a Hamas tactic as the dust trod on by Nebuchadnezzar.

I know my heart is broken.  This has defined the Middle East for most of my lifetime.  The current tensions are decades old, and trace back to the late 90s, well before the 9/11 attacks.  I also get that they go back far longer than that.  From those who only care about the violence Israel does, to those who don't care about the violence Israel does, I know neither is exactly the way of Christ.

For me, prayers for peace.  I doubt any 'side' of the issue is exactly spot on, as is usually the case.  But God's side is on the side of peace and life.  So prayers in that direction are appropriate.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 

Remember what I said about Japan apologizing?

I said it back here.  This is what I mean.  Key statement in the story:

The prime minister, when asked during the press conference whether he would make a reciprocal trip to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, said he had no current plans for a visit.

I know it could come off as being petty, to say we will apologize if they apologize.  But there is a method here.  Again, there is a tendency in non-Western, non-American nations to not blame themselves.  Sure Japan has apologized to other countries over the years.  But usually the apology is somewhere along the lines of  'we humbly apologize for this war we were forced into and otherwise desperately wanted to end because we hear some of our soldiers got out of hand.'  That's not an apology.  Nor is it true.

In fact, it does a grave disservice to those who suffered under the cruel hand of Japan during its reign. As long as Japan uses two giant mushroom cloud shaped shields to mask its own atrocious track record, as long as it uses anything anyone else did to avoid accountability to its own people and the millions it killed and terrorized for 14 years under its self-proclaimed Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, then America groveling in the dirt and begging forgiveness could well cause more damage and allow for less accountability than anything it might help.

If you watch the news media

You might have missed this story.  Iran fired two missiles marked with "Israel must be wipe out!"   Of course, we know that this is just an unfortunate deviation from Iran's otherwise awesomely enlightened intentions.  That's why our deal with Iran was so wonderful, even the Pope gave it high-fives.  When you're dealing with an inherently good nation filled with beautiful people and beneficent leaders, any deal is a good deal.

And this?  Bah.  Just a fluke.  Probably doesn't mean a thing.  And if it should turn out otherwise, and things go sour?  Remember, no matter what, at the end of the day, it's all Bush's fault.

I don't even know why people are worried

It's not like a bunch of students discovered secret tunnels filled with nuclear warheads in *gasp!* America.  Then that would be something to worry about.  After all, we all know our government, our military, our corporations, and generally we Americans can't be trusted but to do the wrong thing.  It's just China that could have tunnels filled with nuclear warheads.  No doubt the same as Iran and the former Soviet Union.  Nothing to see here.  Just a bunch of countries wanting to give peace a chance, and wishing America would finally come down off her perch and join the chorus of tranquility.

Nothing to worry about

Nope.  It's just Russia saying they're starting to scratch that old nuclear war itch.  You know, nuclear saber rattling.  Hey, if it was Americans, American pols, then I'd worry.  Turns out, it's just some non-American country, so I'm sure it will all be fine.

Pray for Koreas

Looks like there still is some heavy duty saber rattling going on.  As tempting as it is for most Americans to blame America for this, chances are the problems go much deeper.  Therefore instead of assuming that if our government would just listen to my infallible words of wisdom then everything would be fixed, assume there are forces at work that transcend out country's ability to screw things up.  So pray that peace will win out during this season of ultimate peace on earth.