Terror
02.23.06 (12:30 pm) [edit]Terror
Terrorism and terrorist have been big news for many years now, and the problem seems to be getting worse as time goes on. It is getting so bad that even Muslims are using terrorist attacks on their own people, who happen to belong to a different sect within their own religion. I have often wondered what would lead someone to strap a bomb around their waist, and then move amidst people they do not know, some innocent, perhaps some being their own people and then sitting off the bomb and killing some (the lucky ones) and maiming others for life; causing deep pain for perhaps hundreds if not thousands of those who knew and loved the victims. I talked to a friend of mine who for awhile worked in some of the refugee camps in the area were this is going on. He explained to me the horror that is experienced by many of these people everyday. How death, torture, and injustice are an everyday phenomenon and the death of loved ones by bombs and bullets is also a common occurrence. Mix that with despair that things will ever get better, and you have the makings of a terrorist. Looking into my own heart, knowing how I react to injustice committed against me or others, how rage filled I can get, and how I struggle with this, it is hard to condemn these men and women outright, without condoning their actions. Terrorist's attacks can never be justified even if understood, and both victims and victimizer are pitied and prayed for. For I think it is only God's mercy and grace that will be able to in the end heal this divide that seems to be growing in the world today. My intuition is that it is only going to get worse before it hopefully turns for the better. I suppose I can see a terrorist while preparing themselves for their violent death, can in their hearts be saddened by what they are about to do, perhaps even in the act itself, praying both for themselves and their victims, at least I hope this is true. To die with hatred in ones heart is not the best way to enter the next life. We can judge the act, and hopefully find ways to stop it but the heart of the person no matter who they are or what they have done, is God's, and only God sees completely, we don't. I suppose if hearts could be read then it would be impossible to have an enemy since to understand everything is to forgive everything. I have no understanding of the lives the Muslims live in their countries, or the power their religious leaders have over them. If any moral guilt needs to be spread out it is on those who train and encourage others; racked by the pain of anger, and loss, to carry out these acts that their trainers do not have the courage to do themselves. I really believe that many of the terrorist are simple devout Muslims who do love God, but are led astray by those they trust. I simply pray for all, seeking to embrace them in God's all encompassing love, pray for those killed in attacks and praying for those who commit them, what else can I do, we are all God's children, each loved infinitely, brought into existence out of love and made in the image of love. Violence for violence does not work, but at this time in our evolution as a species I can see that it is the only way, we have to learn both on an individual basis as well as a communal before change can happen, and asking for God's grace to speed this along is all that can be done at this time. One thing, I am not sure I would be able to live up to this ideal of not returning violence for violence, if I were to find myself in circumstances like those in the middle east, in fact I know that I would not be able to, I know what I am made of. I was at the VA two weeks ago and two Vets told me that we should just "nuke em", I did not say anything since I knew they were speaking out of frustration, but life is not a Steven Segal movie, where going over and killing lots of people really works, it does not, never has really. Yet we are caught in the spider web of our own evolution, both on a spiritual level and also as a species, we have not outgrown our propensity towards self destruction both communally and as monads. When I pray I bring everyone before Christ and placing this mystery of our own self destructive ways before his loving gaze, a gaze that sees all and feel also our pain, despair, rage, and hatred. God is no stranger to our struggles and in this is our hope, and since God sees our hearts we can and should hope in His mercy, a grace that he bestows freely on all. |
posted by: graceshaker (reply)
post date: 02.25.06 (7:21 am)
indeed. killing lots of people is not the path of peace. the thing that sucks is that - globally speaking - it doesnt matter what you and i think say or do...