War and Peace
By Khslid A.
London, UK
The German city of Dresden was heavily bombed by Allied air force in February 1945 in retaliation to London bombings. Thousands died in Dresden within a few days.
Last week an Englishman wrote a letter to the editor in this regard and made interesting observations:
I visited Dresden recently. I was traveling in a taxi driven by a German driver. I mentioned to him that my father was one of the pilots who bombed Dresden in 1945. As we talked it was soon established that the German driver's mother was killed in the bombardment on the same day when my father was part of the bombing mission. In stunned silence, the driver stopped the taxi and parked in a dignified way. Then he extended his hand to me and said, "Now, we shake hands."
Wars are inhuman, but our humanity can be stronger. Forgiveness and repentance are far more satisfying than revenge and hatred. There is a time for war but it must be followed by a time for peace.
