September 11
Sep. 11th, 2007 06:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
qosFear is the root of hatred and violence: fear that something we love will be taken from us, whether that be a possession, a way of life, dignity, freedom, our future, someone we love, or our own life.
The antidotes to fear are love, understanding, and courage. Sometimes -- often, perhaps -- it's hard to hold on to even one of those qualities in the face of something that frightens us, but the attempt must be made.
I believe that we find the way to love, to understanding, to courage, by being rooted in the Divine, by partaking in something larger and deeper and more lasting than any external threat. Others of you may have different ideas about that. Ultimately, it matters less where we seek those qualities than that we consciously, deliberately make the choice to do so, again and again and again, no matter how frightening our circumstances.
Sometimes fighting, in whatever form, is necessary.
But there would be far fewer battles if there was less fear in the world.
There would be less abuse of spouses and children.
Far less violent crime.
Fear is the mind killer.
It can rule us, or we can rise above it, master it, and choose a different way than to strike out against that which frightens us or to cower in paralysis.
I believe that fear is the root of the hatred which motivated the September 11th attacks. I believe that fear -- fear that has been encouraged, nurtured, and exploited -- perpetuates the war and continues to erode our freedoms.
To break the cycle of violence, not just this war but everywhere, we need to address the root cause of fear.
And that's an activism which starts in our own hearts and souls and minds.
What are you afraid of?
What might that fear drive you do to?
How can you turn your fear into something else?
How can you help others to be less afraid?
In the small things, as well as the big ones.
"Anger, fear, aggression, the Dark Side are they."
Let us make this day, and every day, a day of Light.
A day when we choose a way other than fear.
The antidotes to fear are love, understanding, and courage. Sometimes -- often, perhaps -- it's hard to hold on to even one of those qualities in the face of something that frightens us, but the attempt must be made.
I believe that we find the way to love, to understanding, to courage, by being rooted in the Divine, by partaking in something larger and deeper and more lasting than any external threat. Others of you may have different ideas about that. Ultimately, it matters less where we seek those qualities than that we consciously, deliberately make the choice to do so, again and again and again, no matter how frightening our circumstances.
Sometimes fighting, in whatever form, is necessary.
But there would be far fewer battles if there was less fear in the world.
There would be less abuse of spouses and children.
Far less violent crime.
Fear is the mind killer.
It can rule us, or we can rise above it, master it, and choose a different way than to strike out against that which frightens us or to cower in paralysis.
I believe that fear is the root of the hatred which motivated the September 11th attacks. I believe that fear -- fear that has been encouraged, nurtured, and exploited -- perpetuates the war and continues to erode our freedoms.
To break the cycle of violence, not just this war but everywhere, we need to address the root cause of fear.
And that's an activism which starts in our own hearts and souls and minds.
What are you afraid of?
What might that fear drive you do to?
How can you turn your fear into something else?
How can you help others to be less afraid?
In the small things, as well as the big ones.
"Anger, fear, aggression, the Dark Side are they."
Let us make this day, and every day, a day of Light.
A day when we choose a way other than fear.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-11 06:00 pm (UTC)Yes.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-11 09:57 pm (UTC)I'd certainly agree that fear is a root, but I'm not sure I'd go along with it being the root. There are at least three other "roots" that I'd add to the list. First, there is genuine sadism in the world (and not just the fun, consensual kind!), personalities that need to dominate others and inflict pain and fear. We can call this psychopathology or evil or what have you, but it does appear to be real. Second, many perpetrators of violence and purveyors of hate would say that they are motivated by a passion for justice, or, at least, by outrage at some particular injustice. They are not so much afraid of what may be taken from them as enraged by what has been taken from them. And, third, there is the cold calculus of cost and benefit. Violence and hate can make you rich, powerful, and sometimes both at once.
To break the cycle of violence, not just this war but everywhere, we need to address the root cause of fear.
Yes, but. Not every fear can be addressed. Some are perfectly valid. For example, one factor that seems to contribute to radicalizing young men from "traditional" cultures is fear that modernity will diminish their patriarchal privileges (which, as you know, are quite extreme in some parts of the world). They are correct; this will happen. And, of course, it wouldn't be right to prevent it, just to assuage the fears of a small minority.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-12 02:58 am (UTC)thanks for your thoughts and questions... I think I will respond to the questions in my own journal.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-12 03:45 am (UTC)Thank you.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-13 10:25 pm (UTC)That being said, a great number of people have no intention of ever being made perfect in love. Fear and hate is their preferred mode of living. To think love is going to cure them is delusional. Therefore, we all have to decide how we will handle that situation.