On hope

(This text is published, also on "Jacques' S T A R S H I P is space out!" )

Chris Hedges in his recent column published today at Truthdig ‘s site (http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/hope_in_the_21st_century_20101128/), had chosen to end his remarkable display of courage and affirmative stand in writing by those poignant verses from poet W.H. Auden :

Defenseless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.

Some comments under this article criticized association of proposed action with photo showing similar action to defend gay’s right to join the army openly with dignity. I remember also that Auden was associated, in his living time, with homosexual preferences. Nevertheless, the words speak for themselves, and a poet rarely had done so well in turning « negation and despair » into more than dialectic contrary : affirmative action multiplying hope.

Yes, hope, but very differently than terrorism, is the weapon of the weak. Weak they feel when they are alone, in fact they are millions. Myriads have to learn their parenthood and same heart and souls calling for justice. Big difference is that hope refuses violence. Pacific resistance to unilateral power shows pure hearts with bare hands that appeal to masses about to unify in future majority.

The most courageous and wise battle is against war itself. Much more rarely than pretended there is a position, situation and standing for Just war. America, to name just that superpower (applies to any other religion or party), was not in that situation since WWII. In Korea, at least arguably, they came to defend a dictatorship against another dictatorship. In Vietnam, because of cold war and strategy of containment against the so-called « Communist » side, wicked maneuvers and sly attacks tried to wipe out aspiration of a very courageous people.

Irak and Afghanistan are still more difficult engagements to justify. Sheer petroleum interests’, support to corrupt drug smugglers and encirclement of Iran show very evidently behind so-called virtuous protests about freedom and them-mockracy.

Hope is for the weak, but like aspiration for love, this nonviolent pursuit for justice is inspiration for every heart and soul that had not completely lost their ways into this bleak world of powers at war. With love, hope is the strongest might yet to rise to save the world. We have to believe… and, in fact, find each our own ways to act.

Amen.