For Christians, forgiveness and letting go of resentment and anger toward someone who has wronged is central to the Lord’s Prayer. In the Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever forgives a Muslim, Allah will forgive him.” The holiest day in Judaism, the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, is a time for seeking forgiveness. Yom Kippur will begin at sunset on Oct. 11 and will end with the night of Oct. 12.
This year in Montana, Oct. 11 is the day by which all ballots will be mailed to voters on the absentee list, and the bulk of voting in this General Election will begin in earnest. May we vote for the good of Montana and our country without anger or resentment?
For me, that means forgiving Benjamin Netanyahu, not just for leading his nation’s bloody over reaction in Gaza to the attack of Oct. 7, but for his consequent attacks on Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Worse yet, he’s clearly dragging our nation, using his “win, win, win” strategy, into another deep battle for Israel in the Middle East.
Are others, including Americans of both political parties complicit? Yes, and they must be forgiven as well. While I ask forgiveness from the innocent people of Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iran for deaths in their families from our American made munitions. I especially ask forgiveness from the more than 100,000 innocents and their families in Iraq and the families of the more than 4700 U.S. Service Personnel, all killed since March 2003 by direct actions of the United States conducting a deep battle for the Israel. Those actions began earnestly in Crawford, Texas, on April 3, 2002, when Israeli Leaders Sharon, Eiylan and Netanyahu briefed President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair. There was born a firm determination that resulted in lies about nuclear weapons and terrorism that were used to justify a more than 20 years war.
Knowing what happened and grieving the loss of two fine sons of fellow smokejumpers, I intend to forgive but not to forget.
John B Driscoll, Candidate
U.S. Congress Eastern Montana
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