Jonathots .
. . 24 hours later
February 8th, 2010
I am really not sure that we can truly fight terrorism by
continuing to treat each other as terrorists.
I know we crave safety. I
know that security seems to be primal in the minds of the American
populace. I realize that
two planes crashing into the
We are just finding it difficult to be warm to those who bump
up against us.
As the politicians gleefully leap upon the premise of
“national security” to gain votes, they stupidly fail to realize
that they’re losing the passion and the interest of the constituency
that they are terrifying, because bluntly, passion and suspicion are
incapable of sharing the same fleshly dwelling.
I don’t think it’s possible to counteract the short-sighted
and vicious nature of fundamental Muslim belief with fundamental
Judeo-Christian concepts. A
battle of fundamentalism leaves everybody both alienated and vexed by
inadequacy. The greatest way to fight injustice still remains
liberty. The Bible itself
says, “Where the spirit of God is, there is liberty.”
How do we fight terrorism?
Find out what they don’t like to do, what they abhor, what
they preach against, what they stomp about in their mosques—and do
it freely and liberally in our own culture, in their presence, to
their aggravation.
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They
think women are lesser than men?
Let us make it clear in our culture that women are not only
equals but welcome to the table in every situation.
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They
think children are the fodder for a religious cause, to be used as
vessels of anger? Let
us teach our children to be instruments of peace and tranquility,
and listen to their ideas and encourage their innovation.
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They
think God is angry with people and hates those who commit sins of
transgression? Let us
teach a God of humanity who adores His creation and wishes for the
success and contentment of each and every creature.
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They
think people should be covered by garments to mark the shame of
their inadequacy? Let
us remove our apprehension and insecurity, and walk boldly as
people who know they are forgiven—and transcend mediocrity. |
I don’t think we can defeat terrorism by treating one another
like we’re terrorists. I
don’t think we can conquer fundamentalism by exceeding their
dogmatic attitudes. I
don’t think we can foster independence by having inequality in our
society.
This year I cleared up a lot of thinking in my head about
several issues, including homosexuality and the death penalty, just by
looking at how the fundamentalist Islamic world AND the fundamentalist
religious world views these subjects.
I will not align myself with those who damn humanity because of
imperfection. I will not
find myself in agreement with the intransient souls who frown at the
beauty of God’s great creation as depraved, and destined to devilish
delusions.
If they’re against it—well, my dear hearts, it gives me
impetus to be for it. And
if they’re for it—doggone it, it really motivates me to be against
it.
I fight terrorism in my own way: By loving people instead of blowing them up; by caring about humankind instead of igniting them as worthless trash in a garbage heap; and by being aware that the next person I meet is probably NOT a terrorist . . . and possibly my new friend.
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