9/11...What else...11/9 perhaps ?!!
Today sees 3 very significant anniversaries, all of which hold great importance to me personally.
The one that is obvious to all is that terrible day 5 years ago. Everyone in the world knows what happened that day. Just under 3000 innocent lives lost.
The second anniversary is that of Satyagraha : the art/practice of non violent protest. Satyagraha was born this day 100 years ago and was started by a man the whole world should know. Mahatma Gandhi. It could and should be argued that the number of lives saved by Satyagraha throughout the world means that today should have been a day of celebration. Why do we dwell and stew over events that have darkened the history of mankind, when we should be looking to the light that Mahatma Gandhi and the 2 other great icons of peaceful protest, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King have given to us. Unfortunately it is again, a sign of the times where revenge is actually the reason for actions taken, although it is hidden under a veil of righteousness.
Although I do mourn for the innocents, I am also celebrating today. The fact that men of calibre and will such as Gandhi, Mandela and King have even existed is cause for celebration.
The third anniversary is that of my mother and father. This day 39 years ago they were married. No, they did not hang around as I have just turned 38 :)) Mum, Dad very many happy returns for your day. I am thinking of you.
Peace and love
The one that is obvious to all is that terrible day 5 years ago. Everyone in the world knows what happened that day. Just under 3000 innocent lives lost.
The second anniversary is that of Satyagraha : the art/practice of non violent protest. Satyagraha was born this day 100 years ago and was started by a man the whole world should know. Mahatma Gandhi. It could and should be argued that the number of lives saved by Satyagraha throughout the world means that today should have been a day of celebration. Why do we dwell and stew over events that have darkened the history of mankind, when we should be looking to the light that Mahatma Gandhi and the 2 other great icons of peaceful protest, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King have given to us. Unfortunately it is again, a sign of the times where revenge is actually the reason for actions taken, although it is hidden under a veil of righteousness.
Although I do mourn for the innocents, I am also celebrating today. The fact that men of calibre and will such as Gandhi, Mandela and King have even existed is cause for celebration.
The third anniversary is that of my mother and father. This day 39 years ago they were married. No, they did not hang around as I have just turned 38 :)) Mum, Dad very many happy returns for your day. I am thinking of you.
Peace and love
posted by Sandy at Monday, September 11, 2006
2 Comments:
Sand, Mandela was not a peaceful activist. Of course when he came out of prison he was but earlier on he was head of the notoriously violent ANC (without of course saying that the violence was not justified). Mandela shows clearly the cliche that one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter.
For a peaceful activist against Apartheid Steve Biko is your man. Funny (not in a ha!ha! way) that the three biggest peace leaders Gandhi, King and Biko all suffered an extremely violent death. Biko was the only one killed by a government.
Thanks for that Bob. I suppose with regards to Mandela at least he understood the meaning of peace later on in life....which is good as he has obviously learnt from the past. All of these people who are involved in or lead struggles will be involved with or be associated with violent wings of the same struggle. It is unavoidable. So long as that individual knows where the lines are drawn. Or where the lines should be drawn.
Can you send me your telephone number by email. Thinking of coming over to Hong Kong in October if you are still there.
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