Life is a Gift
Life is a gift. It is not something to be tossed aside, nor gambled away for ego or ambition. Every person sent into danger is someone’s spouse, someone's child, someone’s parent, someone's sibling, someone’s grandchild, someone's friend. They are valuable people. Their lives are not pawns for another’s pride.
If a leader wishes for battle, let them lead those they expect to battle. True leadership does not hide behind others’ sacrifice. True cause is not proven by sending strangers to bleed, but by standing shoulder to shoulder with them.
We must remember: war is not numbers, nor strategy, nor rhetoric. It is the tearing hearts of families, the silencing of laughter, the empty chair at the table. Its cost is borne by the innocent, while its rewards are claimed by the powerful.
Let us reflect, and let us demand better. Let us honor those who have been lost by refusing to forget the lesson: life is sacred, and no ego is worth its destruction.
The following poems, written by Tumi Shadows-Echo, are offered as echoes of remembrance, reflections of loss, and calls for peace.