This I believe — that we are profoundly alone. Even if there is other sentient life in the vastness of the universe, the vastness of the universe ensures that we will not meet.

We are all that we have.

The consequence of that is that we are what we must turn to. We are what we must rely on to get through the hard times, to move forward, to build a better future. We must learn to see ourselves and our children in others. We must learn to see that we are one. We must not allow those who wish to rule over us to show us our differences. Our differences are without merit or force.

Each of us is as worthy of respect as all of us. By reason of our existence, we are of value.

The communist manifesto, “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” is not a workable basis for government, at least not yet. We are too greedy. We cannot be trusted to always see our neighbor’s interest equal to our own when we have an opportunity to decide who gets what. Until we learn that that is what is best for all of us, we cannot be trusted.

Instead, we must learn to share, to cooperate, to build together for whatever will come. We can be sure only that what is to come will not look like what is.

For us to survive as a species, we must stop thinking in terms of what we want, and what we believe we need, as individuals. We must see that our greatest self-interest is best served when we all are viewed as essential, and all are taken care of.

This is true in absolute terms. For example, when we deny help to those most in need, the need and the damage grow, and it costs all of us more to effect repairs.

Count from where you will —1948 with the founding of the Israeli state, or the late 1800s when the Jews began to return in numbers to claim their homeland. They sought safe haven, but it was at the cost of those living on the land then, and for centuries before. They continue to force the Palestinians into smaller and smaller areas, against treaties, against international law.

We did nothing. We aided and abetted, out of shame over World War II, and turned away as the situation got uglier and uglier. We are aiding and abetting again.

Make no mistake. The attack of Oct. 7 was indeed a despicable, inexcusable and inhumane act. But it came in retribution — that in no way diminishes its horror. But it does not allow us to be blind to the fact that Israel’s response was also despicable, inexcusable and inhumane.

Oct. 7 cost 1,200 lives and 240 hostages according to Israel.

Israel’s response has cost 10,000 lives (as of Nov. 10) more than half of them children. In addition, all Palesinians living in Gaza, all 2.3 million of them, (only an estimated 2,500 of them Hamas at the time of this latest attack) are trapped into a space 25 miles long by 6 miles wide jammed up against the sea. All of them are being held hostage by Israel. No water, no electricity, no food, no medicine, no fuel, and no refuge.

Told to move to the south to the border with Egypt, the Gazans found the crossing closed and then they were bombed.

This is what happens when you don’t see the “other” as another “self.”

This is what happens when the “solution” is seen to be retribution instead of cooperation.

Hamas is growing by leaps and bounds, and support for them is spreading throughout the neighboring countries and beyond.

The danger is not likely to be contained to that corner of our planet. There is discontent and despair throughout the world. We want to help to start creating the path to peace and progress before we end up in wars and fights everywhere.

I don’t believe there will be open warfare on the peninsula, but there is anger and fear. We must recognize that the solutions are the same.

Our greatest selfishness, our most enlightened selfishness, dictates that we take care of our neighbors — everywhere.

While we are profoundly alone, we are intimately connected.

DEBBY MOGGIO

Ocean Park