Slaughter of the Innocents

December 1, 2023

Somehow, despite the ugliness that is in the world and the sense of futility amongst those of us who try to find the ‘why’ of the ugliness and how we can possibly hope to combat it, we believers still feel that tiny tickle, identified and beautifully expressed by Emily Dickinson.

Hope is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all

John Menadue’s piece touched me in many ways. Mostly his despair, his disbelief over the brutal savagery of an aggressor that cuts down children mercilessly while crying victim. The only victim allowed in the Middle East. Yet despite this blackest scenario we must let hope flicker still. We have no choice, otherwise we lose our own humanity.