There is evil in our world that generally operates undercover but was exposed to all of us
today. It operates through our fear and anger and is easily manipulated into hatred that
always works toward horrific violence. This is not to say we are not to be afraid or angry
but must be on guard as to how we reconcile these feelings. You have managed to
channel your horror through a constructive mode of compassionate conversation. I am
grateful for your strength in character to express your sympathy, fear, and anger in this
way. I too am reeling in overwhelming emotions over this incredible violation of humanity
perpetrated by a few. Please remember the enormity of this loss includes people of all
ethnic, race, gender, and religions and we must refrain from unjust accusations. I fear for
the American Arabs in our country or for that matter those who even look Arab as the
reports seem to point to an Arab terrorist group as the culprits. Arabs in general are not
to blame and they will need our support to prevent us from escalating the injustice the few
initiated. Those who are guilty of this assault will suffer and I pray we as individual, a
nation, or international forces, do not take innocent blood just to attempt to ease our pain.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns. Thank you for providing a place for this
conversation. My prayers are with all us as we move forward into the unknown of the
future. I know we do not have to bear this tragedy alone and trust God to continue to lead
our responses.
Our sorrow is God’s sorrow, and our hope is in God,
Martha
Is there any message, any lesson, any moral to be drawn from these
unspeakably evil developments? I am still wracking my brains and searching
my soul. All I can think is that somehow, it serves to remind us all that
our time on earth is fleeting. We none of us know how long it will last. We
can none of us be sure that the familiar security of daily life will not be
suddenly shattered. So, surely, we had better learn to live more lightly. We
had better see each moment as a gift. We had better be grateful for each
moment of time that we have, while we have it. And we had better pray just
as hard for those who committed the crime as for those who suffered from it.
For at the heart of this ugly event is the same poison that has been hurting
humanity since the dawn of time. Intolerance.
Lynn
since 9.11.01