If charity begins at home, so does hatred, rage, anger, intolerance, injustice, animosity and prejudice. We sow these seeds in our own homes, and in our ignorance think that they will not grow into towering trees that will block our Light.  

How do we expect the child, who was raised in hate and abuse, to reach out with a loving, trusting hand to others?  

Is it possible that if we treat one of our children with love and the other with hatred and rejection... that the abused one will have any love for us?

Can we expect a child born and raised in violence and war, witnessing devastation and enduring hunger, to understand my hurt when I chip my painted nails?

Why is it that we can continue to mourn the holocausts of the past, while creating it by our own hands... daily?  & then act as if we are the poor victims?

Why is it that when one group of people die the whole world is expected to mourn, while the millions dying by their hands are ignored and overlooked?

Why is it that some religious and political leaders have the gall to continue with their hate-filled rhetoric, blaming others just because they are different? & Why is it that we continue to listen to their hate-filled drivel?

How ignorant of us to believe that imaginary boundaries create enemies?

Is is possible that any religion could support violence indiscriminately?

Have we not seen that every religion is twisted and abused in the hands of some people.. be it Hinduism (Kashmir and ethnic cleansing of Muslims in India); Christianity (Crusades, Hitler, KKK, Ireland, Bosnia, Eastern Europe) or Judaism (daily killing of Palestinians in Israel) or Islam?

Did we think that:

• we could abuse kids and there would be no repercussions?
• we could abuse women and it would not haunt us?
• we could oppress men and it would not come full circle?
• we could ignore the poor and it would not affect us?
• we could disown the elderly and it would not matter?
• we could hate each other and it would not backfire?
• we could insult their God and it would not hurt our faith?

Do we even think???

This is a time for all of us to look into our own conscience, to examine our own selves, to question every thought and action... are we the culprit in any way?  How have we perpetuated violence in the world... even if it is at the individual level?  Are we guilty of being apathetic and lacking in sensitivity?  What can we do to transform into better human beings?  If we can't learn some lessons today, we might have to repeat the course. (We did not seem to have learned our lesson from Timothy McVeigh)  

What we need to focus on is not how to beef up security and create taller walls, but how do we change hatred into love and compassion.  What do we need to do to change injustice and prejudice into justice and equality for all?  How can we learn to honor, respect and value life... the life of every single individual?

On the authority of Abu Saeed Al-Khurdari: 'I heard the messenger of Allah say: "Whosoever of you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart; and that is the weakest of faith." (Muslim)

[reproduced with permission from www.crescentlife.com]

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/18/2002 8:07:51 AM

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