The Curse of Interesting Times

We live in an odd era.
I know I don't need to actually Write This Down as it is apparent, but we live in such an insane time.
Humankind is technologically so advanced and yet it still reverts to war.
In fact, humankind has used technology to perfect efficient ways to kill each other.
And on large scales.
I hope that humankind learned something from the horrors of the 20th century.
* * *
I realize that this is Not A Very Amusing or Lighthearted subject.
But I want to spend this afternoon writing a Prayer for Peace,

A Prayer

That all terrorists may lay down their arms
That all wars may CEASE
That my children might know the freedom of waking into coffee shops with uncomplicated headlines in the newspapers
That my children will live in a world FREE of hatred from ALL directions
from east-north-south-west, free of hatred

That the world might come to its senses collectively
That everyone knows the joys of full cherry trees, blossoming apples and figs
The beauty in every flower from hibiscus to rose

That we all realize that everything is interconnected
That we can take better care of each other and the earth
blue-green-aqua-forest-cerulean

That we care for our environments, trees, waters, oceans, skies
That we understand that there is more to the world than our particular problems
That we can stop World Hunger
That we can stop genocide
That we can realize that Together the world's nations can achieve much more than any can alone
A prayer for an end to Interesting Times, a prayer for peace so deep
that it is felt in the roots of every tree, in the roots of every cloud,
in the roots of every soul.