These are important ideas posted here from Bodhi2b.

I love what you said, Bodhi2b:

"I simply hope that the suffering and violence, if for nothing else, serves as a vessel and is enough to wake up the inherent empathy and compassion in all of us so that we may one day be able to simply smile at our enemy to make them drop their guns."

Your vision nicely conveys the transformative power of love, of compassion, and of respect for the "other".

And your example of Newton (great name!) changing his entire demeanor in the face of a threat simply by changing the energy of the context from adversary to potential friend, also illustrates the point.

I, too, have been amazed that these questions haven't evoked more participation. I'm glad you've taken the time to share your thoughts. They're much appreciated.

I am amazed that more people haven't posted here. What I have to say is not a direct response to the question, but it is a response to the general question of how anyone, no matter how far, has an effect on everyone, and how I hope this event and all similar events will effect us.

The first thing that comes to mind when I see this question is the interconnectedness of all living beings. I also recall a quote(the author of which I cannot recall) that seems relevant here: "Injustice ANYWHERE is a threat to justice EVERYWHERE".

I can't claim to know what implications these events have on us politically. I am more of a spiritual thinker than a political one. But morally, as human beings, these events should in the very least create some compassion and empathy in us towards the victims AND those in command, making decisions to hurt innocent people. Both sides deserve some compassion, yet for different reasons. They are both "people" just like you and me. HEAR ME OUT...

I learned a through a combination of experience and study that there are no "EVIL" or "BAD" people. I didn't understand it at first. I didn't even think it was possible. But I was taught through ancient philosophy and Buddhism that the people that we view as "BAD" or "EVIL" are actually ill. I happened to be studying this while I was surrounded by murderers and thieves and junkies for two years in prison. (my crime was non-violent and hardly immoral)

This understanding that there are no evil people is how Gandhi was able to have compassion for the man who shot him, forgiving him just before he died. I couldn't, for the life of me, understand how someone could feel compassion for someone who just killed them. This was also the way Jesus felt toward his executioners: "Father, please forgive them, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO". And Ronald Regan went to the prison where they held the man who shot him just to let him know that he was forgiven. But this is how I was able to understand:

Being surrounded by so many people while I was in prison, whom I got to know on a personal level, people whom I knew did terrible, unspeakable things, people who were kind, decent caring, compassionate people, forced me to evaluate how someone could be a "GOOD" person and a "BAD" person at the same time. Well, they can't. There are no "BAD" people. A person who's mind allows them to rationalize hurting another living being MUST have a mental illness. It is unnatural and impossile for a healthy human being to harm another living being deliberately for any reason. If it is for money, drugs, or anything like that, then it is GREED or ADDICTION, ultimately OBSESSION that overwhelms them, takes hold of their sense of morality. There are actual diagnoses for these people i.e. obsessive compulsive disorder, or sociopathic psychosis.

It is the same on a grand scale. Not just for individuals, but for groups of peoples as well. If a family, or even a nation evolves with the idea that something is moral and another family or nation evolves with the idea that it is not moral, then there will inevitably be a conflict if those two families or nations confront one another.

But how could a whole family or nation be mentally ill?

It is simply a matter of passing an idea down from one generation to the next. The mentality is passed down, along with the illness. Simple as that.

I am no doctor, but I know in my heart and come to realize, after deep contemplation over how some people do the things they do, that these people truly "KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO". In their minds and hearts they are doing what is right or what is absolutely necessary for their survival. And somehow the delusionment of their illness helps them to rationalize the harm they do to others.

In my mind, I feel that this is a terrible illness and I can't help but to feel compassion for them. Their reality is heavily distorted and they must be suffering in a world that calls for such action to be taken in order to survive. They must be confused and angry all the time.

THIS IN NO WAY MEANS THAT THEY SHOULD BE EXCUSED FROM WHAT THEY DO!!! I do not imply that they are not responsible! They are killing innocent women and children and must be stopped! But if we, the lucky ones, those of us who know right from wrong, those of us who possess mental clarity...if we could all begin to understand the reality that there are no "BAD" people, then maybe we could develop, as one, a stronger sense of compassion for those who are ill. And in developing that compassion, we as a whole, by example, may be able to come together and demonstrate that compassion towards them.

We cannot fight fire with fire. Only love destroys hate. Violence begets violence. Here is an example: I have 3 dogs. One small, one medium and one large. The small one has what people like to call a "Napoleon Complex", due to his small stature; a self esteem issue. He is mentally ill like the people I was speaking of. When he sees another dog he growls and barks as if he wants to bite their head off. I used to yell at him "stop it Newton, stop it!" (Newton is his name). I would scream louder and louder and he would just get meaner and meaner.

One day I decided, since it didn't help to scream at him, that I would talk sweet to him with the high pitched voice I use when I am being cuddly with him or when we play. I said "Newton, please stop it baby!" And I said it in the sweetest voice I could muster. Immediately he began to quiet down. A few seconds later he was wagging his tail and sniffing the other dog. All I had to do was be nice to him even though he was being mean. He calmed down and realized that there was no reason to be afraid of the other dog; no reason to defend himself.

It seems that when approaching a hostile situation with a sense of peace and calming nature, the violent party has no choice but to stop being violent. Imagine if it were not only a peaceful approach, but one full of overwhelming compassion? True compassion?

Now, I don't know how one would approach a situation like the one in Gaza using this method, or what steps one would take. But that is not the point. I believe that if we, humans, as a society, as a whole, at least in majority, one day find ourselves open minded in this way, full of compassion towards those who do not yet grasp the idea of compassion towards ones enemies , that the approach necessary would actually work itself out. The compassion would speak for itself.

The ones who are ill would see something radiating in us. Their anger and immoral values would fall away and they would want whatever it is that they see shining in us, even if they didn't understand it. They would see our compassion and our happiness and sense of freedom and realize that they no longer have to be so defensive and they will want to do whatever is necessary to get what it is that is emanating from our souls. What need is there to defend if there is no opposing force?

But there need to be more of us to stand out, enough to shine a light so bright, brightly enough that the whole world could see. And it would spread like an epidemic to the rest of the population.

Whatever effect the Gaza Conflict has on any of us, politically, morally or otherwise, I simply hope that the suffering and violence, if for nothing else, serves as a vessel and is enough to wake up the inherent empathy and compassion in all of us so that we may one day be able to simply smile at our enemy to make them drop their guns.