I watched yesterday how a Bulbul reacted to the movement of a squirrel in the tree not too far from where the Bulbul was perched above the feeding table. That is a favourite perching place for Bulbuls before and after their feeding visit.
The loud bird calls with a fearful body language lasted till the squirrel moved up the tree.
Some squirrels like chasing away birds.
But there are others who are more sociable towards other birds.
I return to some of these photographs of the last five yers since we have had a feeding station for birds in our garden. They give the message of comfort level between birds and squirrel!
I wish the prime minister of Israel will develop a comfort level towards the Palestinians in Gaza!
The weapon manufacturers, fighter jet manufacturers and others involved in business of arms like a war !
The instinct to practice social amity is more natural than hating others or creating fear in others!
A passage I return to read to find comfort is in the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Bible, in its second chapter, verse 4: 'And God will judge between nations, and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift sword against nation, and never again Wii they learn war' !
It was while visiting Switzerland, in 1983, this peace consciousness between nations dawned on me. Switzerland being a small country lived under oppression from other large European nations about 250 years ago. For about one hundred years now, the country took a new direction in its mission as a nation. It does not have a permanent army. All young people serve in the army for short periods of time and they do it once in three years. It is a non-alignment country, who did not join the United Nations Organisation.
The policy decisions are made by a national referendum. Being a small country it is practical to do so. The political leadership is often consultative of the non ruling party and not confrontational. The country has three languages, German, Italian and French, suggesting the lineage of people in that nation.
It was a country that took time to offer adult franchise to women or offer women teachers, or nurses equal pay as men! The transformational journey of that country is phenomenal.
When Anna and I visited Switzerland in 1983 we left the luggage in the railway platform, when we had lunch in a restaurant. Hedwig our friend assured us that it was safe to do so ! But it was no more the same in 2006, when we visited the last time!
But the pursuit of peace as a nation is still its mandate. Many more migrants have come and the religious plurality is obvious.
A squirrel and birds can share the garden space and co-feed at the table!
The vision of Isiah is real in a small way in our garden!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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