Breaking the Cycle
Peacemakers and Friends,
With news of Osama Bin Laden's death, many people feel safer and that justice was served. I can understand that, and do not judge anyone for feeling this way. Yet, I cannot help but question... What is humanity's potential to break the cycle of extreme violence? What can we do to achieve this potential? And how do we set constructive examples for the world's children? Although I feel that catching Osama (rather than killing him) would have set a better example, I do not know if it was logistically possible. With that being said, if President Obama announced the death of Osama with a different tone, if he didn't boast, if he expressed an intention to help break this vicious cycle and catch violent extremists (when possible), rather than kill them, then wouldn't he have set a better example for children across the globe?
On 12-12-09 I wrote the President this letter (co-signed by over 500 people) expressing many of the same thoughts and questions about our potential to break the cycle of extreme violence. Please take a moment to read it, and add your voice if you agree with the message.
With Love to All,
Yaron
"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." ~Jessica Dovey
"Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."~Martin Luther King, Jr.
"You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew." ~Albert Einstein
"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." ~Gandhi
"Unless we teach children peace, someone else will teach them violence." ~Colman McCarthy
"Simple truths are more powerful than empires." ~Gandhi
Views: 226
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Comment by Edward Biagiotti on May 2, 2011 at 10:33pm
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Beautiful sentiments, brother. I hear you. Blessings to our planet, and to our world. We are one.
Ed the wOrd
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Comment by Herbie J Pilato on May 2, 2011 at 11:07pm
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Well, I tell ya' one thing, seeing Americans rejoice across the country because somebody is dead is not a good thing. To be happy that someone who was clearly possessed by evil spirits (in any of their hateful forms) is no longer in power is one thing. But to rejoice at a horror of war, or to be happy for such a dreadful event as a death - whether that person was evil or not....? Something just ain't right about that. Just ain't right.
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Comment by Karen Dindia on May 2, 2011 at 11:45pm
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So glad to see another view that more reflects my feelings. The outcry of a blood-thirsty mob sends chills down my spine and rattles my nerves. I know the path to peace is not always peaceful, but to cheer as if this were a football game is very unsettling. I would love to see more evidence that we can bond by means other than a common enemy or a tragic disaster. I would also like to encourage our leaders speak more about breaking the cycle of violence.
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Comment by Bruce Larson*Moore on May 3, 2011 at 3:52am
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Celebrating the death of any*one, simply diminishes the humanity of every*one...
Severing the head of the serpent, only spreads it's venom to the countless minds & growing fangs of it's offspring...
Victory or justice by the sword, is nothing more than retaliation & vengeance which perpetuates the conflict...
Demonizing others for whatever reason, is evils bidding, there is good & evil in all societies which commit atrocities in the name of both.
My*Heart
Sears with the pain and suffering of mankind's utterly senseless, confrontational follies,
A determined rancor, of petty uselessness, dividing community, relative, family, sibling, spirit and soul,
Stumbling, perpetually falling, upon the dull, repetitive, serrated edge of it's bloody, abusive, egocentric dogma,
My*Heart weeps, silent desperation, for knowing peace...
Breaking this cycle of hate & violence, requires every*one to fully comprehend and accept the responsibility and consequences of their words and actions, toward others whom they demonise through ignorance and fear...
C.H.A.O.S.
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Comment by Love Dove on May 3, 2011 at 6:02am
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I agree with all the sentiments reflected here re the recent killing of OBL. We once again missed an opportunity to shift the culture away from violence, vengeance and vitriol to justice, consciousness and humility.
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Comment by Todd Edwards on May 3, 2011 at 7:40am
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I thought I was on of the very few who felt this "celebration" of the killing of Bin Laden was somehow skewed. I know the man was sick and I understand the sentiment of all those people who lost loved ones in the attacks of Sept. 11. I simply don't understand how this should be considered a celebration. Our government set out and killed another human being and society rejoices. We have a big rock to push up a very steep hill.
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good point Karen. Our leaders have become brutal and inhumane. It will take a complete culture shift to undo all their propaganda and atone for the crimes inflicted in our collective name.
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Comment by lynda cole on May 3, 2011 at 12:18pm
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I definately agree with the sentiments expressed. I did notice that almost all the people celebrating the death in front of the White House were young.They have probably not been personally touched by death and war.Maybe they have been also touched by too many action movies, and not enough non-violent heros like Martin Luther King and Ghandi.
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Comment by Leslie Romine on May 3, 2011 at 1:48pm
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You have all said so well, what I have been feeling and so I simply add my voice to yours in a desire for the light to replace the dark and for peace and cooperation to become the cycle with which we gauge our progress. Thank you for knowing this in your heart and holding this vision for us all....
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Comment by Dawud Muhammad on May 3, 2011 at 3:22pm
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No matter how bad one human being may appear to us, we have no right to take a life that we did not give. I am sadden by this event as I was by 9-11
"Why should there be hunger and deprivation in any land, in any city, at any table, when man has the resources and the scientific know-how to provide all mankind with the basic necessities of life?"
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
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