A Mother's Agony

I hate war. I hate death. I hate agony. I look at a mother burying her child who was killed in the Iraq war and I see all three things in her face. When I look at her I feel a small part of her pain. Oh, it must be an unbearable, searing spiritual pain. When my children are hurt I can physically feel their pain. How would I go on if I couldn't feel them anymore?

The common denominator in this war is the crying of grieving mothers. The cries of the left behind. To the Iraqi mothers, I offer my sympathy, my love, my understanding, hoping that it might help. It doesn't matter to that mother what side he died on, only that she will never be able to hold him again. To the US mothers, I offer the same, and again, hope it helps. Mothers are mothers throughout the world. Perhaps someday the mothers can come together. We can find a way out for our children that doesn't involve killing.