i thought these words from others could help us all understand (and overstand) the realities of todays earth! hL! I started writing my 2 cents on this morning's events to clarify for myself how I feel about it. I have to admit some grim recognizance of these events, as if they were scripted, and this is the opening act. Without being apocalyptic or millenarian, these events have a certian sad ring of inevitability to them. I believe like the author below that cruelty most easily begets cruelty in a karmic circle we must all work daily to metabolize into rational and hearted action. When we are hurt directly, our basest instincts receive the appeal - the adrenelin flares, wounds demand the salve of bitter revenge. Already it seems the media's focus iseems to be on the proper use of the Green Berets...This is the devil's game if there ever was one and a greateer tragedy that we choose to play it now. Though the identity and demands of those responsible still remains a mystery as of 1pm EST, we can guess well enough at heir general pathology, the specifics of which will no doubt be mere symptoms of alrger problem - a problem that will not be solved by dropping a few smart bombs on terrorist hives in third world countries. Considering the violence the US wields through the vehicle of it's foreign policies, the presence of those who would lash out in desperation against us should come as no surprise, but this fact will not get much airtime. Our media gives play to the desperation abroad only enough to keep us fearful and mistrustful of the world beyond our borders. And even when we know, we have the luxury of ignoring it all, Pursuing Disney, poolside. It seems proportionally shocking then, when emmisaries from the war-torn world come calling with kamakazie airliners. Do they have or attention now? Is this what it takes? Has not our precious Hollywood been preparing us for this for years with premonitions of the eventual, the inveitable? Sadly, in a hubub or indignance, tears and retribution, we will likely continue to miss the point. What is it these desperate souls, the perpetrators of this terror, hope to accomplish by attacking the US? Who are they and what do they want? Do we really need them to tell us? When a neglected but growing child bites the hand that both hurts and feeds it, should that hand turn further upon the child? Or should that hand acknowledge the responsibility that is part and parcel of it's power? By and large, we will only talk about American suffering, American loss, and the scale of retribution America should take against this "unprovoked" violation. Surely, no method of stoking the vile fires of nationalism (and the furnace of the industrial economy) is so effective as a front-door attack on the homeland in question. Of course, the US needs to respond resolutely, and will. But if the Bush administration enthusiasticly seeks only an eye for an eye, in both rhetoric and action, if it seeks only to fuel the problem with beligerent stumpings of fear and hatred, it will only guarantee the continued existence and increase of terrorism. And I cringe to imagine what these terrorists may do next. The mainstream US media will not discuss the reasons others on the planet might feel this way about America, other than to sound-bite about fundamentalists, extremists, terrorists, cults, alien, incomprehensible people too mentally warped or moraly depraved to acknowledge the supposed good intentions their Great Uncle. They will seek to thrill us instead with a 72-hour soundtracked sensation of loaded passenger planes piling into the trade center towers, a scene our Hollywood-stuffed imaginations are all too eager to indulge. While we lament the mothers and fathers who won't be coming home to their children in New York and Washington tonight, let's consider, for example, the children of Cuba who, by the US's malign influence, live in abject poverty, disease, and hunger DAILY - 90 miles off the coast of out glittering empire. Let's consider the uncounted thousands of Iraqui civilians dead of disease and starvation so that we can hop in our SUVs, drive cheaply to the train station and elect an arms-and-oil barron puppet to the White House. The CIA-sponsored campaigns of terror in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras? The violence of US collusion in the "drug-war"? To name a few. In perspective, the obvious examples of the US's direct violence against humanity are no worse than any other major power in history. The difference, to harp on it afresh for 2001, is we are now truly global. The ecological (and hence eventual human) cost of the lifestyle we flaunt to the world, is violent beyond our capacity to describe. The challenges we presently face as a species surpass any and all nationalistic concerns, past or present. If American culture, industry and government have any capacity for true leadership left in their decadent bones, they will find it in an active promotion of the reality that we on this earth are all in it together and that we opress others, knowingly or not, at our collective peril. As long as those in power continue to shirk this responibility and all that follows from it, we will have war, we will have terrorism. We will guarantee that in the midst of abundance, human need will continue to fester into frustration, frustration to anger and hatred, then into horrific events of this Tuesday morning. We do have the power to curtail this violence in our policy, as in our own hearts, minds, and actions. We must be vigilant, but we must not give in to fear. The events of this morning are symptoms of a larger, potentailly avoidable tragedy in progress, a grim wake-up call, and a challenge to all of us on earth. Love out to all those who have been wounded today. -g> >---------- >From: XDude.com Newsletter >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:58:23 -0600 >To: >Subject: Fear Grips North America and Planet Earth-- Is this the first day >of our last days? > > >Friends, I'm at a loss for words. To say I wish to extend "my condolences" >to the friends and family of those working in the Trade Center buildings >would be a severe understatement. I simply cannot believe the images I've >seen this morning. Never again will I look at a plume of smoke or collapsing >building in the same way. > >The easiest way to react to such a monstrous catastrophe would be out of >anger, to cry for revenge, to want to see someone else hurt as much as you >are hurting right now. I must warn you, friends; such feelings are exactly >what caused the terrorist attacks in the first place. Evil begets evil. All >we can ask for is that the leaders of our world not make important decisions >out of fear or anger, and that no important decisions be made for at least >three days. > >If I were given the chance to do absolutely everything I could to help avert >a global catastrophe as a result of today's events, I certainly would, and >this is the most powerful medium I know of to communicate my message. I ask >you now to forward this e-mail to as many people as you can, in the hopes >that somehow love and light may spread more powerfully and quickly than the >hurt and fear that is being experienced across the continent. An avalanche >begins with a single stone, friend; you alone can make a difference. > >Sincerely, >"Mr. Dude." >Hello loving beings, > >As everyone is probably aware by now, the word trade center buildings in New >York have been levelled and 4 commercial airliners were crashed. This sort >of activity always leaves me with a very heavy heart. > >I would just like to ask everyone to pray for peace as you move through your >day and to pray that world leaders respond in a way that helps to heal the >world not encourage more of this. Our lovely President Bush's television >response was extremely harsh and negative which only ensures more needless >destruction in the future. > >peace, > >john > "As we let our own light shine, We unconsciously give other people Permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear; Our presence automatically liberates others." Galen Butler Shakatura/ZenRocket Media http://www.shakatura.com ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?b1dgdK.b2A06G Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================ -- "I just wanna hear a good beat" Deelite
