Sunday, September 11, 2011

Let it begin with me

Ten years ago today, nearly to the minute, the second tower fell.  As a nation, our sorrow is deep and abiding.  With a decade under our belt, we have the opportunity to gain the perspective that only time and distance can afford.  And when one distills down what led us to this point, it is clear that exclusivity is the culprit.

The idea, "the world should be according to me" caused those two towers to fall, the pentagon to fold and a plane full of people refusing to cower to crash in the middle of a field in Pennsylvania.  It starts with each of us-do we reject our brothers and sisters because they are different?  Do we terrorize by refusing to accept and by casting out?  The world over, we see it on the large and small scale.

Refusing to let the gay young man sit at our lunch table, openly mocking the woman with the crew cut, disparaging those whose religious practices are different than ours, assuming that those whose skin is not like ours are less than us, instilling fear in others simply because they don't think like us, casting out those we don't understand....this is how it starts.  The hate in one person's heart is what leads to the inferno that causes the tower to fall.

Inclusiveness, acceptance, and love are our only true and lasting weapons.

 "Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.  With every breath I take let this be my solemn vow:  to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.  Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."