THICK GLASSES

Sometimes when I put my reading glasses on, things look out of sort and slightly blurry. My head starts to swim and I feel like my equilibrium is slightly off. I see things in a distorted manner and I think, ''What is the matter with my eyes. Why can't I see clearly?'' It never fails, I take my glasses off and realize that my right lens has fallen out. It is amazing to me that the missing lens would make such a difference in the way I see things.

Our nation is at war. Decisions have been made by old men who wear thick glasses to send our young men and women off to foreign lands to place their lives on the line in behalf of our nation and innocent people. The leaders in foreign lands wear thick glasses also.

The lens of our world seems to be distorted right now and I wonder how clearly we are seeing things. How is it possible for two nations to look through the same lens and yet see things so differently. I believe Attorney General John Ashcroft put it in a profound, succinct and most clear way when he said, ''Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him.'' ''Christianity is a faith in which God sent his Son to die for you.''

We are daily bombarded with news broadcasts about the last incident that happened just 15 minutes ago. I become captivated by the current maneuvers of our soldiers and then I see the men with olive skin, black eyes, and black beards. The thought goes through my mind, ''This man who is an enemy is some mother's son. I am sure she loves him as much as I love my sons. She has hopes and dreams about his future. She wants him to grow into an honorable, righteous man. How could our sons from separate worlds-- and yet loved the same by their mother's--view the world so differently?

As this war has unfolded, I have seen grown men with looks of despair weep as they run for safety with babes in arm and veiled wives close behind. The children seem to be confused and are ever watchful of their parents. As I look at them, I see that they are not so different after all. They are just a family who wants what we all want—food, shelter, protection, freedom. Perhaps we do see the world through the same glasses. Ghandi was once quoted as saying, ''When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it…always.''

This morning I witnessed, through our media, the statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled. Many Iraqi men clubbed the base of the statue trying to chip away at it. I am sure it was their way of ridding themselves of Saddam's evil presence. Some even climbed on top and threw a rope around the neck in an desperate attempt to bring it down. But it was not until the American soldiers came with their heavy equipment did the statue topple. The Iraqi men raised their voices in jubilation. One man said that for the first time is his 40 years he will finally be free. The streets are now filled with hundreds of men and children parading through the streets with banners waving, and shirts flying. Imagine, for the first time in years, the feelings of cautious freedom. Jubilation is a good word to describe the scenes I see.

Recently, we saw where the thick glasses of hatred and vengeance were taken off. One young U.S. soldier was taken captive and as hard as she fought not to be taken by the enemy, the Iraqi soldiers captured her, broke both legs, her arm and ribs. She was listed as missing but was actually in a hospital where a young Iraqi lawyer went to visit his wife who was also in the hospital. He saw the young American soldier and went to her bed and whispered, "'I will help you.'' He traveled back and forth six miles on foot several times in order to contact proper authorities. Did he place his own life on the line for hers? Yes. How thick were the lens of his glasses?

I believe we have it within ourselves as brothers and sisters living here upon this earth to take our thick glasses off. I believe we can see each other through the eyes of love and acceptance. It is a decision away. It is a choice we can all make. I know it is possible.