Thoughts From Thomas Merton
On July 8, 1964 Thomas Merton wrote the below entry into his journal. With the ongoing insanity here in this nation and in the world, his words speak volumes. Change some of the names and places and he is describing what is happening in the Middle East and Central and South America!
I do not at all like President Johnson’s policies in Asia. To make sure of votes in this year’s Presidential election, he has to threaten war and promise “results” against the Communists. There is something very strange about a system where a political power for a party or an individual demands the sacrifice of lives and of poor people thousands of miles away, people who never even heard of Democrats and Republicans. I am not talking about Communist power only, but power of Democrats and Republicans… All the future promises is the possibility of a long, stupid, costly, disastrous and useless war in Asia. It will certainly bring no good whatever to anyone, but because it does not involve a nuclear threat to the U.S., everybody shrugs and think about something else. — A Vow of Conversation: Journals 1964-1965, p. 60
Pastor Michael Moore's Blog 
Disinformation and the normalization of lying wear down the foundations democracy needs to function. Merton warned against a public that hands its judgment over to a distant, faceless power elite and drifts into passivity as a result. That is why his warning still matters: resistance begins by refusing that drift.
Merton certainly foresaw the future with the Vietnam war. All the deaths, for nothing. The one hopeful sign I see today, are there are so many more people, who are against today’s Iran war.
Yes, and in that I too find hope!