I am not a member of any religious group, but the following email that landed in my inbox today makes a lot of sense:
The images are horrifying – children by the hundreds killed by U.S. made bombs lobbed into Lebanon. Thousands of homes, hospitals, schools, and houses of worship leveled. Hundreds of thousands of frightened families displaced. In Israel Hezbollah’s random rockets terrorize communities and kill innocent civilians. On both sides of this out-of-control war, it is the children who are the victims.
At the very hour Lebanese officials were pleading with the U.S. to negotiate a cease-fire, the U.S. government was instead delivering fresh shipments of bombs to Israel to rain down even more terror on the innocent people of Lebanon.
We believe America can do better. Our faith teaches that love is more powerful than hate. That is why FaithfulAmerica is launching a response to help deliver shipments of love, not hate, and we’re calling it:
Books, not Bombs
I spoke this morning with Aline Papazian, a Lebanese relief worker in Beruit with the Middle East Council of Churches. (listen to our conversation here) She told us that last night the city was shaken by Israeli bombs exploding all around them, though thankfully they remained safe through the night. Aline told me that the greatest need at the moment is for children, who were about to begin their school year, to experience some semblance of a normal life. The volunteers serving in shelters, refugee centers, hospitals, and makeshift schools need, among other things, educational supplies as they try to minimize the trauma of this war.
You can help right now by buying “back to school kits” for children provided through our partner organization, Church World Service. While it is doubtful that "school" as they know it will begin anytime soon, volunteers are doing all they can to help make life as normal as possible. School kits can help children gain some measure of control by focusing on learning. With each school kit we will include a message of hope and love from you so that the children will know that they remain in our hearts and minds.
Note: We will endeavor to provide kits for children on both sides of the border.
https://secure.ga3.org/03/books_not_bombs
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21*
