We need 'peace academy' in Mideast

Common ground is holy ground. Holy means it is peaceful ground established by nonviolent conflict resolution in compliance with the will of God. Intimidating leaders try to complicate life with devious, shrewd, complex delaying strategies to acquire control with entanglements in hard knots. In the Middle East, inhuman brutality is met with human sacrifice to the false god of war.

Muslims, Jews and Christians lead lives of fear on the same ground as their common forefather, Abraham. The Jewish settlements declared illegal by the U.N. in the Palestinian West Bank and in Palestinian East Jerusalem complicate peace negotiations. When there are interconnected islands of settlements, where should the lines be drawn to arrive at and maintain a two-state solution?

A United Holy Land Peace Academy of Christians, Jews, and Muslims must be established on common ground and encouraged by religious and political leaders in concert. The wall around Bethlehem creates an enclosed complex that prevents friendship and intermarriage. Children, thus aborted before conception, will never become peacemakers and be called the children of God.

The complexity of war is not what God wants. God does not kill. God is a simple act of pure love. People kill. Our common spiritual ground is that all three religions believe in God and His infinite power. It is time to do more than pray. It is time to forgive and demand peace. We must invite lifelong atheists and agnostics to join us.

God has given a trinity of power to all mankind. We have the power to know each other and God. We have the power to love each other and God. And we have been given the strength to carry the cross of peace from this life into the joy of eternal life where we will be with each other and God.

George Bedingfield

Arlington Heights