“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” – Mahatma Ghandi
I am not celebrating the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death. Instead, I just feel a heaviness at this, and the killing of Gaddafi’s grandchildren, and the other endless mayhem we are currently unleashing on each other. How does this make the world better? How are we living up to our best selves in celebrating the back and forth murdering of each other?
I am not so naive as to think these were necessarily good men, though surely Gaddafi’s grandchildren, all of whom were under the ages of twelve, should have been exempt from all this? But when we all descend into vigilante retaliatory ‘justice’, where does it end? Even the military experts agree that the world, and the U.S. in particular, is no safer as a result of this murder. In fact, they will likely have to ramp up security to be ready for the inevitable retaliation. So what do these killings serve except our collective thirst for vengeance?
There is a wonderful instruction, that I believe is found in the Upanishads, that says whatever we see in others, perhaps especially in judgment, we need to remind ourselves that; I am that. And so I know that I am that. I am certainly not exempt from this type of behaviour. I have taken my revenges, both petty and large.
I have not avenged a death(s) like the case of Osama Bin Laden, but I understand the craving need to ‘get back’ at someone. And briefly, I am sure I did the equivocal dance-in-the-streets about whatever I felt I had avenged.
But ultimately? I believe it diminished me.
It did not enlarge my spirit. And in this lablog killing, I do not feel we have furthered our understanding or moved toward a more peaceful world.
I hope that we can continue to reach for our better selves, to look for true justice and not just for blood.
That is my wish for the world, and for myself, because of course, I am that. I am the world.
Your thoughts and the way they are written felt extremely heartfelt and sound very wise. Beautifully spoken and I am appreciating the replies from others.
As simple as it sounds, at the end of every Ellen show she says, “be good to one another”. It always strikes me every time I happen to hear this…………….on television, from a lovely American, gay women who has the ability to reach millions.
Thanks Karen. I love that Ellen quote. It is SO simple and so obvious but it’s not easy. Every religion, every basic human teaching is about being kind and good, but it continues to be a daily struggle for all of us 🙂
A friend said to me today: Vengeance belongs to God, not to the likes of you and me. I don’t know about God, but I do know vengeance feels like dying to me.
I wish they had captured Bin Laden instead of killed him… but then again, I imagine the protracted circus and wonder what that could possibly serve. An assumption that Bin Laden should be tried presumes we have a just and fair legal system in North America (and in this case, the United States of America particularly). One has only to look at Guantanamo Bay to recognize the falsity of that assumption.
I understand the soul-sickness of the strike on the Gaddhafi compound. However, who ultimately puts those children in danger? Who, as claimed by the US, uses women as human shields in a firefight (Bin Laden operation). I would say it’s unthinkable to westerners to do such a thing, but it has happened on our soil, and who knows what would happen were we to become more viscerally involved as a nation, such as in a world war. None of us know what we are capable or incapable of until the terrible moment arrives.
The best, most loving thing we can do is to be fiercely good to each other. Turn away eagerly and without regret from our own private vengeances. Seek out opportunities to be openly generous and compassionate, even with those we perceive as opposite to ourselves.
I still believe we are up to it. I have to believe we are.
Thank you for your insights Laurie. I hate to even imagine what I would do if I was the one having to make these decisions. Instead, I love your last lines that the most we can do (and maybe the only thing we can do?) “is to be fiercely good to each other.”
I was just discussing this with colleagues and we agreed that celebrating someone’s death is never right, no matter how bad his deeds. It just lessens us.
That’s it Sharry. It feels wrong to me on so many levels. It is comforting to know there are others out there who feel the same. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Well said, my friend. Some relief is understandable, but dancing in the streets is not.
Mirroring hatred never works. Surely we humans can grasp that.
Thanks Steve…we really don’t get it do we?
Excellent! My sentiments exactly. We are constantly creating more violence, intolerance, racism and paranoia by our acts.
Thank you Ruth. I just find all the glee rather disturbing. I really appreciate your support. I wasn’t sure how this would be received but felt compelled to write.