My sadness towards the lack of compassion in others grows this week. Not just because of the upset overseas, but the reaction it is receiving here at home. What happened was horrible. But hatred and the pointing of fingers back and forth will not solve anything. Why is there so much wasted effort put into trying to place blame, and practice utter hatred? I for one CANNOT judge an entire group of people, based on the actions of some. All I am seeing are words full of hate about Muslims, and their religion, their way of life..... They are not ALL bad. What happened when the Sikh Temple in Wisconsin had that shooting? I don't see all these poison spewing Americans saying they hate Americans. It is no different. It was a hateful action, caused by hateful thoughts and beliefs. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with their faith. The one's that do are gravely misreading their religion, as do tons of us. As do the people here at home that beat and rape gays because they believe it doesn't go with their religion. All the acts of violence caused right here at home because of a difference in opinion on religion. I say a majority because: One billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe - from the southern Philippines to Nigeria - are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe. So to say you hate them, one, is ignorance, and two, one should not hate. It is an emotion that will cause you nothing but suffering. What actions one person has seen or experienced, still does not speak for a whole. There is a large group of people in this world that perform actions of great suffering and hatred. I can admit that, obviously. But I will not utter such words of hatred into this world as I have read in the past few days. It truly makes me sad.
May I remind you that ALL religions, and ALL peoples have had acts of violence. Many of it right here in America and our own history, and much of it with Christianity and Catholicism. But I have yet to see such putrid words spilled about that. To say an entire group of people should be eradicated? Never. We are not Hitler reincarnate. How hypocritical to disagree with what he did, but call for the death of all Muslims!
And lastly, let me remind you all that every man, woman, and child is your sister or brother. We all live in the human family, in one home that is Earth. The only way to move forward is to shed hate and embrace compassion. What happened makes me eternally sad. When I think of the people who did this, and how they were shaped into their beliefs, and all that happened before them to shape who they are, and the events that led up to this, hatred just does no good, it does only bad. But I can feel compassion for them. I have hope that they will see the error of their ways. And some might say that that is just letting it pass, like it was nothing. No. It is not. But if you are seething with hatred because of this, what good is that doing? It is making you angry, it is causing negative results to yourself. At least compassion has the capacity for growth. Hatred is a dead end. Your hatred will cause no change, it will only cause you negative effects.
well said. totally agree.
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