Are we about to have the war to end all wars again?

Editor: As my closest friend wisely believes, “no one is elected without God’s will.” So, it is indeed.

God help us if we are confronted soon with war. And that may be possible, judging by recent news events.

The United States and North Korea are both sounding off with ready-for-war declarations. That because of attacks on Syria — retaliatory air strike attacks by the U.S responding to the earlier deadly chemical attack in Syria on April 4 and U.S. President Donald Trump warning both there could be both more American air strikes and that the U.S. is positioned to go to war.

Moreover, the U.S. accuses the Syrian government of deliberately chemically bombing its own people.

In turn, the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Syria warned the U.S. April 14 against more air strikes. Meeting in Moscow and speaking for his two counterparts, the Russian minister termed the U.S. missile strikes on Syria “a flagrant violation of international law” and that more such actions would ignite “grave consequences not only for regional but global security.”

The heat for war sure is ablaze since North Korean Vice President Han Song Ryal fired back that North Korea is ready for war if Trump wants it, adding that if the U.S. shows any sign of reckless military aggression, Pyongyang is ready to launch a pre-emptive strike of its own. Dear God, please help this goofy world. What a catastrophic difference everything has been from 100 years ago when the Battle of Vimy Ridge was a key component in a war that was being termed as “war to end all wars” and helped marked the birth of the Canadian nation. At a cost to Kelowna alone of 133 men killed. Another 151 from the Okanagan were wounded.

War to end all wars? Since then, our world has been awash in almost continual warfare with ever-escalating slaughter of civilians and millions of trauma victims and refugees increasingly dampening the global picture.

Against that global picture, it’s sure dopey that our government is licking its lips in the high hopes of tax revenue from the legalization of marijuana. So very trivial.

As well, we have had the disturbing picture of an escalating cross-border dispute between Canada and the United States over cheese and yogurt. As the Council of Canadians notes, we may be happy that Canadian cheese and yogurt producers can buy milk from local family farmers at fair prices, but U.S. President Trump isn’t and he’s now blaming Canada for the U.S. dairy industry’s woes, terming the situation a “disgrace.”

The council terms “this is the best indicator yet that Trump is moving full throttle on his ‘America First’ trade agenda,” so timely with NAFTA talks expected to get underway.

Consider, too, that water under NAFTA is a good for trade. As the council notes, What if “Trump sees Canada’s water as the solution to the U.S.’s growing drought problem?”

Still, not to worry, there are as many, if not more, good published stories, and even more unpublished good community deeds. Several printed stories demonstrate community goodheartedness:

— The Kelowna Gospel Mission served 750 dinners for Easter.

— On May 11, local shops hosted a fundraiser to support women who have been abuse victims, or suffer from mental health issues, or addictions. NOW Canada received all proceeds. It’s a non-profit organization that provides safe housing and programs for women.

— Pastor Tim Schroeder recently praised two Vancouver Marathon runners who, ignoring their own finish times and just several yards from the finish line, teamed to help a straggling guy about to go down cross the line. Schroeder’s admiring eyewitness account relates superbly with Psalm 133.1, which states: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in peace.”

Thank You, God, for Easter and all of the blessings of that Divinely super holiday.

Wally Dennison, Kelowna