Bennet
<font color=red>aka Evil Emperor Zurg<br><font col
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2000
- Messages
- 517
WHY?
That is the 9/11 question. The answer is simple.
Hate.
Hate grew out of all proportion and in direct conflict with every cultural norm, wrapped it self in lies about religion and on 9/11 hate struck out. If there is a hell that hell rejoiced for surely hate is the prime emotion of hell.
Rather than muse about why they hate us I am taking the opportunity of the anniversary of a hateful act to reflect on my hearts, root out the petty little dislikes and prejudices that harbor hate there. I wont allow these to grow to be weeds that choke out what would otherwise be friendships.
It is all too easy to respond to hate in kind.
I wont let 9/11 foster venom for all Islam just because those who acted claimed to be Muslim. I will learn to see and draw strength from the common roots and cultural values of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Then if Ill look for similar values and I expect to find them in virtually every faith system. All religion is of life and the life of religion is to do good.
Ill pull out the roots of ethnic prejudice against Arabs. If I make space in my heart and allow a hate for some group called them I am sowing the seed of the feeling that motivated the 9/11 attacks. If I hate groups of "them" it is then just a slide down a slippery slope to let the them become everyone else.
Yes this seems so easy and so obvious to see - or is it? Have I written any flaming email recently, joined in a conversation that was basically - look at that person, aren't they beneath "us," tolerated a joke that belittled a stereotype? The seeds of hate are all around.
The post 9/11 world began as the towers fell, on that day and for some time there after, our world was noticeably united by what we loved - our freedoms.
People across America and beyond behaved the way they would have if attack and been against their next door neighbor. We werent liberal or conservative with a little party identifying (D) or (R), we were free people.
Our freedom was attacked. Our response wasnt a matter of race, or politics, or religion or nationality. We were a common people caring for other people because we were all hurt.
It was often said that the world has changed. I hope so. I like looking toward the common values and freedoms that join us. I will try to keep those things in mind.
One of the Americas architects of freedom, John Adams, made the fairly simple but eloquent observation that it is much easier to tear things down than build up a free nation.
As I go forward in a post 9/11 world, I can choose the path of dividing, knocking down, fostering petty dislikes and growing hate or I can celebrate finding and sharing common joys with my neighbors across the nation and world and building something good from those joys.
Today is a good day for me to think about my choices. The only place I can make the choice is my own heart and I am the only one who can choose there.
The simple fact is only one choice offers freedom.
That is the 9/11 question. The answer is simple.
Hate.
Hate grew out of all proportion and in direct conflict with every cultural norm, wrapped it self in lies about religion and on 9/11 hate struck out. If there is a hell that hell rejoiced for surely hate is the prime emotion of hell.
Rather than muse about why they hate us I am taking the opportunity of the anniversary of a hateful act to reflect on my hearts, root out the petty little dislikes and prejudices that harbor hate there. I wont allow these to grow to be weeds that choke out what would otherwise be friendships.
It is all too easy to respond to hate in kind.
I wont let 9/11 foster venom for all Islam just because those who acted claimed to be Muslim. I will learn to see and draw strength from the common roots and cultural values of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Then if Ill look for similar values and I expect to find them in virtually every faith system. All religion is of life and the life of religion is to do good.
Ill pull out the roots of ethnic prejudice against Arabs. If I make space in my heart and allow a hate for some group called them I am sowing the seed of the feeling that motivated the 9/11 attacks. If I hate groups of "them" it is then just a slide down a slippery slope to let the them become everyone else.
Yes this seems so easy and so obvious to see - or is it? Have I written any flaming email recently, joined in a conversation that was basically - look at that person, aren't they beneath "us," tolerated a joke that belittled a stereotype? The seeds of hate are all around.
The post 9/11 world began as the towers fell, on that day and for some time there after, our world was noticeably united by what we loved - our freedoms.
People across America and beyond behaved the way they would have if attack and been against their next door neighbor. We werent liberal or conservative with a little party identifying (D) or (R), we were free people.
Our freedom was attacked. Our response wasnt a matter of race, or politics, or religion or nationality. We were a common people caring for other people because we were all hurt.
It was often said that the world has changed. I hope so. I like looking toward the common values and freedoms that join us. I will try to keep those things in mind.
One of the Americas architects of freedom, John Adams, made the fairly simple but eloquent observation that it is much easier to tear things down than build up a free nation.
As I go forward in a post 9/11 world, I can choose the path of dividing, knocking down, fostering petty dislikes and growing hate or I can celebrate finding and sharing common joys with my neighbors across the nation and world and building something good from those joys.
Today is a good day for me to think about my choices. The only place I can make the choice is my own heart and I am the only one who can choose there.
The simple fact is only one choice offers freedom.
