In God’s name
A few days ago I saw a documentary on television. In it someone said:”There are way more people dying of starvation and of treatable diseases than through terrorist attacks.” “IN GOD’S NAME, a primetime special produced in association with the acclaimed French filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet, explores the complex questions of our time through the intimate thoughts and beliefs of 12 of the world’s most influential spiritual leaders. These diverse and powerful voices offer provocative, compelling and enlightening perspectives on myriad issues in our post-9/11 world, including the rise of terrorism, fanaticism, intolerance and war.(1)”
The person in the documentary went on to say:”It would make more sense to focus our attention on feeding and curing people than to rage war on terrorists.” This remark deeply moved me and I had two main thoughts.
1. When I think of starvation and people dying from treatable diseases I immediately have images of the poorest of poor in Africa. Yet I realized that even in the amazing country of freedom, the United States of America, there are men, women and children going to bed hungry every day. I also personally know people who are suffering or have died of “simple” diseases here in the U.S. because they could not afford the medical bill and preferred to not bother going to the doctor.
2. If a country truly takes care of their own citizens and major world problems, that country will fill needs no one else is meeting. If people’s needs are met they tend to be peaceful, generous and sharing. By raging war we are feeding the hatred and amplify it. If after 9/11 our government would have chosen to do some soul searching, confront its own shadowy past, figured out what the root cause of the terrorist attack was and taken compassionate action, our world would look much different now. Instead of wasting billions of dollars and the lives of many bright young beings, instead of fueling the hatred and getting into an impossible mess, the American Government could have used its resources for the real problems within its country and around the world. Hatred begets hatred, caring begets caring. As the land of the free, we did not have a government that was free to choose to break the cycle of violence. Instead it was corrupted by greed, fear and revenge, which are never good decision makers.
So what can we, you and I do? I practice the very same thing that our government failed at so miserably, breaking the cycle of violence within myself. I practice to make decisions when my head is clear and I refuse to be reactive, greed, fear and revenge driven. When I am steeped in negative emotions, I disengage from discussion and confrontation. I take some time out, create space and regain my equilibrium. I step out of the circular thinking of negativity into calm, clear thinking and a state of common sense.
Sounds too simplistic? Maybe. I believe though, that all the universal truths are simple and easy. We are just so used to making life complicated. That’s all, it’s just a bad habit. Peace, unity, caring, compassion need to be cultivated in our own hearts first. How can we expect our government to act more compassionately if we allow ourself to have self-hatred, ignorance and doubt rule our life? We first need to break the cycle of violence within our own thinking habits. Once we are grounded in an internal dialog of caring, compassion, self-love and acceptance we will be a true source of peace to the environment and the people around us.
When we are at peace within, it will reflect on the outside as well. My wish for 2008 is that we all choose the courage to face our inner torments and transform them into strength, that we honestly look at the messes in our lives and start to clean them up. In this way we set the example for responsible, compassionate living which will get reflected by governmental choices that are enlightened and create a better global future for all its citizens. May peace, love and compassion prevail now and always.
(1) Excerpt from alpha.cbs.com/specials/in_gods_name/