I'm sitting here attempting to process in some meaningful way what's happened overseas over the past week. So many lives (over 150k) have been lost to forces both natural (earthquakes and hurricanes in Japan and Mexico), and man made (Paris, Beirut, Libya, Bagdad, and too many more). I spent a good portion of my weekend reading about these attacks and can't wrap my mind around them any more today than I did when I was sitting at my desk on Friday and first head about Paris. It's terrifying and painful and frightening. Which is exactly what the groups propagating the violence want: for us to be scared. To hate Muslims. I even read a few pieces where the terrorists wish to bring about the end of the world. I don't understand it.But the reality is, I only have one thing truly in my control: how I respond. I will not be scared. I will continue to love my Muslim friends and family. I will not let this influence my views of those fleeing the violence in their own countries (often by these very same terrorists). I will not let them make me afraid. I sincerely hope there doesn't come a day when the danger of being able to go out (whether it be to travel or just to a concert) isn't too dangerous, because then these groups who spread hate and fear will have won.
How have the recent attacks affected you? What are your thoughts?
Very good thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThere comes a point where one can't continue to read the news for one's own good. The people who have done this would like us all to be at the throats of Muslims in general, but we can't give them the satisfaction.
Those who did this can't be reasoned with.
:*( My heart broke over the news.
ReplyDelete"But the reality is, I only have one thing truly in my control: how I respond. I will not be scared. I will continue to love my Muslim friends and family. I will not let this influence my views of those fleeing the violence in their own countries (often by these very same terrorists). I will not let them make me afraid."
I completely agree with you. The terrorists want our hate and our fear to grow, and push more muslims toward their cause. I refuse to help them in their mission, and will only spread love.
It's so terrible. I simply can't wrap my head around the evil people can do. And that's in any culture! I have an online friend that I met in Paris that I communicate w/every now & then, & I sent her an email when I heard of the attacks. She's not replied back yet, which is worrying! I'm hoping it's just a case of an old email. Which reminds me, I'm gonna go check out her twitter feed again, see if I see her on there!
ReplyDeleteAnd she was! *whew, relieved*
DeleteMartin Luther King Jr wrote in Strength To Love:
ReplyDelete"Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."
As I've tried to explain the terrorists' actions to my youngest children, I keep coming back to the quote above. Because there ISN'T a way to explain their actions. At least not without scaring my children. And they shouldn't walk through life scared. No one should.
So rather than focus on the terrorists, I've decided to focus on our response to them. Love them like God loves us. Don't be scared of them. Instead, pity them. Don't hate. That only makes us miserable. Instead, forgive. That does not mean to condone or forget. Forgiveness is a choice; it is not tolerance.
Am I right in what I'm teaching my children? I don't know. But they are taught WITH LOVE and taught TO LOVE. That can't be a bad thing... can it?
Michelle
It is tough, because you don't want to live in fear but you also want to be careful. You can't really predict when something's going to happen...I think if there's anything we should learn from things like this, though, it's that every day is a gift and we should make the most of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that now more than ever we really need to spread kindness to each other. Treat people with a smile and give a hand where needed. We can't judge people because of the acts of a few people who are evil. I don't understand what is going on, but I do understand that a smile and kindness to others can go further than we think. :)
ReplyDelete