sivis pacem

The blurb for my sermon this week is "CAN we simultaneously work for peace and prepare for war? We'll honor veterans and deconstruct the ways both sides misunderstand their sacrifice." Now I have to live up (write up?) to that promise...
Just to be clear, I believe we can do both simultaneously, but I want to make space for the whole range of beliefs. I'm using Dorothy Parker's "The Veteran" as a reading:

When I was young and bold and strong,
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong!
My plume on high, my flag unfurled,
I rode away to right the world.
``Come out, your dogs, and fight!'' said I,
And wept there was but once to die.

But I am old; and good and bad
Are woven in a crazy plaid
I sit and say, ``The world is so;
And he is wise who lets it go.
A battle lost, a battle won--
The difference is small, my son.''

Inertia rides and riddles me;
The which is called philosophy.

I usually enjoy her cynicism, but now the last two lines are pissing me off. I guess if I get into that anger, I'll find the route into the sermon...