Peace

In the film "Groundhog Day," Bill Murray wakes up each morning and relives the previous day. A similar scenario is playing out in the Middle East between Israel and her enemies. The deadly "movie" always goes like this: Israel is shelled or attacked by terrorists groups, often called "militants" by the media, each one with the same goal: Israel's elimination. After demonstrating considerable restraint of the kind that would never be tolerated by any other nation, Israel fires back.

When Gov. Martin O'Malley canceled his planned trip to the Mideast this morning, it wasn't for any of the obvious reasons. Like, he didn't want the delegation to be in harm's way. Or, the powers that be in Israel might be too preoccupied to deal with a Maryland development tour. No. O'Malley thought his presence in Israel could scuttle the entire peace plan. “After many days of monitoring the situation in the Middle East, I've decided to reschedule Maryland's Economic Development Mission to Israel," he said in a statement.

The holiday season wouldn't be the holiday season without colorful music and dance events. And, just as department stores break out the Christmas decorations earlier and earlier, some performing arts organizations get into the swing before Thanksgiving. A couple of stage versions of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," for example, are already up and running, with more on the way. Handel's evergreen oratorio "Messiah" and Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet "The Nutcracker" will be here in abundance before you know it, along with all sorts of seasonal concerts by any number of ensembles, starting next weekend with a holiday program by the Canadian Tenors.

Palestinians have been firing dozens of rockets from Gaza into southern Israel recently, hitting cities and civilians ("Palestinians to seek elevated status in U.N.," Nov. 13). Yet not much attention has been given to the fact that Israeli families who have been living in constant fear of terror attacks and rockets from Gaza are now hunkering down in their bomb shelters. The media and the international community seemed to ignore the constant rocket attacks on civilians by Hamas, a terrorist organization that receives money and weapons from Iran.

In memory of George McGovern, we should not forget that he was a GI ("Liberal icon fought Nixon, Vietnam War," Oct. 22). Originally, GI stood for General Issue, but it came to represent the men and women who wore a uniform in service to their country. At the end of World War II, these people were disgusted with killing, maiming, deforming, wasting, etc. With the assistance of the several parts of the GI Bill, they tried to make sure it didn't happen again. The death of George McGovern should not end his efforts or end the efforts of millions of his compatriots to ensure peace and tranquillity.

Running Showalters, KidsPeace to host 5K/walk Sat. in Canton Orioles manager Buck Showalter and his wife, Angela , have teamed up with KidsPeace to host the third annual KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot 5K run/one-mile walk Saturday in Canton. The event is open to all ages and features Halloween activities in addition to the race. The entry fee for the run is $35, which includes an Under Armour T-shirt for the first 400 registered runners. Families who plan to do the mile walk will pay $20 and are encouraged to dress in their favorite Halloween costumes.

James Heuser's Eagle Scout project took him a fair distance from his home base of Lutherville, but on the journey he gained a respect and insight to the legacy of veterans and, in turn, embraced a project designed to help provide them a place of relaxation and reflection. Heuser, 16, a Boy Scout with Troop 828 in Lutherville, took on the project of building a large gazebo on the grounds of the Perry Point Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Harford County. "I knew I wanted to do something special to show veterans how much I appreciate all they have done to protect our country," said Heuser, the son of Dr. Mark and Leslie Heuser, "and I thought the gazebo would provide them with a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

In today's high-tech world, it's easy to forget to unplug and unwind. If you're in need of a mental break, check out the drop-in meditation classes run by the Kadampa Meditation Center, a nonprofit Buddhist organization - the only one of its kind in Harford County. “In our busy, often distracted daily lives, meditation is an essential tool for helping to develop mindfulness, focus, and a healthy mental perspective on daily life,” says Kelsang Menla, administrative director for the center.

I am so proud and excited to have read Zainab Al-Suwaij's op-ed piece "Stand up for our values" (Sept. 24). Ms. Al-Suwaij has great insight and courage to have printed her opinion regarding the behavior of radicals and their attack on the U.S. embassies. Unfortunately, the impression of many Americans is that Muslims are a hate-mongering, angry, primitive group of people. The world only sees the loud violent anger. I hope that Ms. Al-Suwaij's thoughts are taken very seriously and that the women of the Muslim religion support her in her outstanding efforts to educate the world that there are plenty of Muslims who want peace and harmony.

One hundred and ninety six people were murdered in Baltimore last year. Recent figures show our violent crime rate is more than two and a half times the national average. Many of these crimes spawned from the illegal nature of the drug trade, and the vast majority of them will go unsolved because so much police time is spent arresting drug users and low-level dealers. But this weekend, a cross-country caravan of victims of the drug war brings a message of change to Baltimore. Dozens of Mexican and U.S.-based drug war survivors, law enforcement officers and others with firsthand experience with failed drug laws have been traveling for weeks now, educating people about the destruction our policies have wrought and the futility of continuing them.