If a child lives with criticism ...
a child learns to condemn
If a child lives with hostility
... a child learns to fight
If a child lives with ridicule ...
a child learns to be shy
If a child lives with shame ...
a child learns to feel guilty
If a child lives with tolerance
... a child learns to be patient
If a child lives with encouragement
... a child learns confidence
If a child lives with praise ...
a child learns to appreciate
If a child lives with fairness ...
a child learns learns justice
If a child lives with security ...
a child learns faith
If a child lives with approval ...
a child learns to like himself
If
a
child
lives
with
acceptance
and
friendship
A
child
learns
to
find
love
in
the
world
~Dorothy Law Nolte~
These thoughts seem so simple and logical.
Why are they so very difficult for so many to understand ? It really doesn't
require a vast store of wisdom to comprehend and appreciate
the veracity of each and every word. Simple common sense should tell each
of us how significant our actions are to the youngsters around us.
Little ones absorb knowledge like sponges. If they see kindness and tolerance
in those around them it is a given that they will exhibit those same traits
throughout their lives.
The converse being, if they are subjected
to anger, mistrust and even hatred of any who do not conform to their elders'
belief systems or way of life they will in all likelihood carry those same
emotions into how they perceive others in the years to come. And so the
circle of violence and confrontation in our world continues.
Misunderstanding and suspicion of
any who are different is contrary to everything we are taught by our faith
yet we continue to perpetuate the cycle every time we resort to violence
and vitriol as a means of dealing with that which we do not understand.
There is a better way. It's simple. Live as our faith teaches. To
do otherwise is the epitome of hypocrisy. How can we call ourselves Christian
when we ignore the teachings of the God we profess to revere?
It is contrary to everything for
which Christ lived to subject children to the horrors of war. No child
anywhere regardless of the excuse should ever be forced to witness the
brutality and inhumanity which accompanies warfare. And most
assuredly no child anywhere can witness the carnage and survive without
a heart and a mind filled with hatred for those who have brought
such terror into their lives. How can we expect it to be otherwise
?
The terrorists who would destroy
us were once children. They were not born filled with hatred. They are
the product of man's inhumanity to man. If we are ever to defeat them we
must break the cycle which produced them ! Unless we do that we shall continue
to produce more of their kind in ever increasing numbers until they ultimately
overwhelm us and our way of life will cease to exist. And we will have
no one to blame but ourselves.
Does anyone believe for a second that the
followers of Islam are more kindly disposed to us now than they were two
years ago? Do they trust us more ? Do they believe that we are not their
enemy ? Do the children of that faith see us as fellow citizens of the
world which they can call friend ? I hardly think so. It is a certainty
that the mistrust and anger have increased a thousand fold amongst hundreds
of millions of peoples around the world and has intensified their desire
to rid themselves of the 'accursed infidels'. We have, by our actions,
become the terrorists' best recruiting aid. God help us all. We have allowed
the terrorists to win. And for what ?
Yes, we were attacked and faced horrors
beyond comprehension on this continent for the first time in our history.
Horrors which demanded response and changes to our way of life. That those
in a position to make the decisions have chosen the path of returning mindless
violence with force and a show of strength which has
indiscriminately meant the deaths and /or maiming of innocent children
is totally alien to our declared principles. In doing so we have become
no better than our attackers. In fact, we have done exactly as those attackers
might have wished.
Where we should have turned to the Rule
of Law in keeping with our nations' standards to seek justice against those
who committed the heinous attacks we instead have chosen to resort
to violence against those who were no part of the attack upon us simply
because we were told they were a danger to us and must also be stopped.
It is becoming more apparent with each day that passes this was an
horrendous error in judgment on the part of those making the decisions
resulting only in multiplying our enemies and alienating our friends.
The motivation for such miscalculation is very questionable at best.
Our children are watching and being taught
by our actions, or by our silent acquiescence, lessons which they will
carry with them the rest of their lives. The children we have brutalized
are also being taught lessons they will never forget. And the hatred and
misunderstanding is once again perpetuated. What will it take for us to
learn ?
The Dove of Peace
"Some
men
see
things
as
they
are
and
say
why.
I
dream
things
that
never
were
and
say
why
not."
George Bernard Shaw Quote
- frequently cited by Robert
F. Kennedy
To visit the various other
pages of my site click below to reach the Site Directory
My
sincere thanks to Margi Harrell for
the use of this absolutely lovely midi
You will find several of this very talented pianist's CD's available
for sale on her site.
September
29 2003
|
