How is it ever possible for anyone in their right mind to
justify the outright slaughter of innocent children as an expression of their
love and devotion for their God? Sadly and tragically over the centuries
mankind has done many attrocities in the name of God. The ultimate question that comes out is WHY?
Is it possible to walk away from the outright murder of children and actually
feel good about what you have just done? I can’t fathom what it would be like
to attempt to sleep at night with these images going through your mind
regardless of your outrageous justification that some god told you to do this!
Retribution or revenge is too much weaved into our cultural
fabric. I live in an under-resourced neighborhood where loosing a basketball
game could end up in a show down with a variety of weapons. Forgiveness, mercy
and grace are tossed to the wind with the mindset that getting even is totally
what life is about. What strikes me about this, no pun included, is that this
way of life is engrained not only in the youth of today but their parents. So
it becomes evident over time that the ruthless murder of innocent children and
people becomes wrapped up in this sense of getting even for the supposed unfairness
in life. The reality is that violence only begets violence and that revenge
only unfolds into an ongoing battle where everyone loses!
My wife grew up in Pakistan not too far from where this
massacre took place this last week. I have come to understand a little over the
years the cultural around her that shaped a certain mindset and fanaticism that
left unchecked might erupt into this type of expression. The world court has
raised its’ voice and condemned this atrocity. The difficulty is that the motivation behind
this action isn’t something most can comprehend or see a path to resolve except
in another act of violence.
As the power and instant updates of the media make these
types of tragedies almost appear in our living rooms we are left with an
incredible question of what do we do? Anger and outrage left unchecked will
explode into riots and other tragedies that only promote a sense that the
bigger weapon is what is required to win. The reality is that it takes the
silent majority to choose to stand with one voice against this type of violence
and recognize that we can choose to let our differences fall to the wayside in
order to unite for sake of protecting and promoting our humanity.
I too easily identify with the ‘rubber neckers’ who watch
someone being robbed or mugged only to justify their choice by saying it’s not
my responsibility to police my neighborhood or the world. Many Americans grow
tired of the U.S. being the big brother who attempts to defend and protect the
orphan and widow, yet, when we turn a blindside to these types of horror we
allow the vocal and violent minority to win.
Ultimately acts of kindness and good overpower the evil that
for too long has been left unchecked. There are so many examples of individuals
who have chosen over the centuries to stand up against this evil mindset with a
passion to confront the real force behind this corruption that might cost them
their lives. We have too many stories now from our own tragedies where
schoolteachers, custodians and the much-maligned police force face daily risks.
The question that we must grapple with and not allow to die
down is what is MY PLACE in overcoming the evil around me? Do I assume someone
else will call 911 when I see a car accident? Do I ignore the person stranded
on the side of the street with a flat tire or jump into the middle of a mugging
or robbery? The decision is ours to confront the misplaced zeal of those who
have done atrocities in the name of their god.
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