The news of violence of late is quite distressing. Whether it is about the extremes rising in the U.K., the prospect of a potential President Donald Trump (R-N.Y.), potential race riots in the U.S. or the growing tensions in many other countries, the world has without a doubt become an angry place.
Recently, when the Orlando shooting happened, I realized that every time something terrible in the world happens, it is explained in the regular media and in social media in many ways.
Excuses, Excuses…
It was because he was an extremist. It was because he was gay. It was because he was an extremist and gay. It was because a former lover may have had AIDS.
I also heard the line, “Christians can be homophobic too” many times as one of the explanations for this atrocity. I am amazed at the reasons given for these terrible acts of violence, offered up as if they close the case. The fact is, whatever reason he did it, plenty of other people are in a similar situation, who choose to not be violent everyday.
Did we expect to see gay vigilantes burning mosques afterwards? No. Do we think all Muslims are terrorists? No.
Do we think all Muslims are anti-gay? No. Do we think Islam perhaps has anti-gay teachings? Yes, but so does the bible.
We all know there are liberal Muslims. Ever since 9/11, I don’t think any other point has been made so repetitively. I feel patronized every time I hear it. As if we think all Christians are the same. We all know there are those who believe in bits of the scripture. Others believe and follow it to the letter.
Other common posts on social and regular media suggest terrorist acts were called for in some way.
From foreign policy, to 9/11 being an inside job, to the Crusades, I have read about many “reasons” for the Islamism rising up in the world. Charlie Hebdo staff paid with their lives for practicing freedom of speech.
Pope Francis responded with a comment along the lines of, if you swear at someone’s mother, “he can expect a punch.” As Ricky Gervais noted at the time, this is a common wife beater’s excuse, “she asked for it,” or “she provoked me.”
How would Pope Francis have reacted if a Catholic terrorist had shot the staff of the magazine for making fun of Jesus? Is murder really an acceptable response to a cartoon?
When the next terrorist attack hit Paris, and many people were shot, I recall hearing a reporter say these new attacks were unprovoked, as opposed to the Charlie Hebdo attacks.
Such appalling journalism!
As a child, we always sang the rhyme,
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words [or cartoons] will never hurt me.”
Why does this notion not stand up anymore? Recently, with the police shootings in Dallas, a similar thing has occurred.
The world is in shock when we see people held to the ground, defenseless, and shot dead. Without a trial, for minor offences and seemingly for the color of their skin. A massive injustice.
To take the law into his own hands and shoot other police in revenge because he considers all policemen guilty, though, is not OK.
We all understand what he was thinking, but it was still wrong. Violence and injustice cannot be eradicated with more violence and injustice.
Look at Nelson Mandela, his forgiveness bordered on divine. Mandela showed a wisdom greatly lacking now. The wisdom to know that forgiving and letting go of hatred is freedom.
How Do We Get To Peace?
When men are sexually abused as children, they can grow up and become the abuser. It becomes a cycle of abuse and the saying “Hurt people, hurt people” applies. When women suffer abuse, as damaged as they are, they can often grow strong. They are resilient, heal and not repeat the abuse. Examples of women spring to mind. Oprah and Ellen suffered abuse and yet both went on to be empowered. They have helped others with a mission of kindness, not one of revenge.
As the great Mahatma K. Gandhi is believed to have said, “An eye for an eye turns the whole world blind.” This is true.
It seems finger-pointing, and cause and effect are not solving anything here. If the world really wants true peace, someone – everyone – is going to have to turn the other cheek. Both sides have to say they are sorry.
Everyone must start loving their enemy. Think about how we deal with children who are fighting. We encourage an apology, make them shake hands, and tell them to go and play nicely together. What the world needs now, is a trip back to Kindergarten so that we can all learn “Sticks and Stones” and “Two wrongs do not make a right.”
Featured Image: Screenshot Of RuptlyTV/Russia Times Video
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