Healing: A Possibility?

Related Readings:
The Path To Peace
The Path To Peace II
Reflection: 9/11 
​Is Peace Possible?  ​

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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     The truth is that I was thinking about my previous thoughts with regards to the questions that I had surrounding the events of 9/11. I continue to question, ponder, and wonder why these terrorist events took place. This year marked the 16th anniversary since the attacks happened. We have seen the devastations on all fronts, from the perspectives of the victims, and also the accused attackers, to the American People, and also to the people of Iraq. I don't want to repeat myself, but for the ease of reading, I probably will have to repeat a few points. 

     I know that if I took myself at the place of 9/11 today in these shoes, at this exact moment in time of the attacks, I probably would not have survived. This judgement is based upon my reactions to Hurricane Harvey, Irma, and to see the devastations first hand that took place in Houston. I am still trying very hard to cope with my own emotional response, and also trying my best to stay strong. How does one forget the hurts and injuries of the past? I don't think that we ever do forget, but we simply learn to find ways of coping, and simply living. 

     I do also think that we have to try to heal from the wounds. We cannot blame those who are living peacefully, contributing to the American economy, because they are Muslim. I do see hope of healing, especially when we saw interfaith ceremonies to mark 9/11. The ceremonies were solemn, peaceful and also brought about the yearning of asking, and wondering why this happened?

     This yearning was somewhat settled when I saw how New -  Yorkers also remember this day. With the performance of serving. Engaging in public works, and acts of service. This is a great idea because when we begin to do, to contribute we feel a sense of worthiness. We can't ever replace the service members that paid the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11, we can continue to honor them with kind pro-active acts. Whilst we honor these memories, we must as a nation be mindful not to enable a fear provoking collective psyche. That is the last thing that these remembrances should enact, but the truth is that they can, because Islamaphobia is very real. So with services, remembrances, public acts, we must also think at the level of inclusion. How are these including all members of a contributing society?

     9/11 has taken place, societal shifts have taken place. America is a nation that embraces all faiths, yet is bound to have security measures in place for the purposes of Homeland Security. Inevitably the security of people within a nation has to also be protected. America and Israel are very close allies. Israel is known as the Jewish state. It is also important to remember that America is closely tied to the Catholic Church in communion with Pope Francis. I mention this point particularly because of my interest of a peaceful and prosperous world. If America is closely linked to Israel, then America as the world leader has a duty to negotiate a peaceful resolution for the Israeli's and Palestinian's who have been at war day in, and day out. 

     We see bloodshed, poverty, and war that takes place everyday. These events seem to be somewhat ignored, because in essence that is violence everywhere. We see strife taking place with natural and humanitarian disasters from East to West, North to South. Yet, I write these words in association with my call to world leaders in my last thought post, where I called for a renewal and re-dedication to the vision for peace. 

     I am neither pro - Palestinian, or Pro - Israeli, but I am pro - peace. Also as someone who has pledged allegiance to the American flag, I also have to think about American interests, relationships, as well as our contribution to world peace. There is much potential for peace, this also means that many other nations work for this alongside efforts with the USA. 

     Nations must try to begin to heal with each other. Similar to that of 9/11 that took place in America. The innocent children, they don't understand, they don't know what all the fighting represents, only to learn the hate, violence at a young age. They then begin to normalize this , and carry on to contribute to the cycle of violence and war. As I conclude these thoughts, I once again think about the vision for peace. How can peace be possible when a vision is not aligned, or nations are fragmenting? For a vision to truly evolve into that of the tangible, it has to be embraced.

     Writer's Note:
Please note that I have not been publishing my thoughts consistently, simply because I am still trying to cope, remain strong after witnessing the devastations of Hurricane Harvey. Thank you all for continuing to read my thoughts, words of support, and your contributions to healing through the natural disasters. 

Dedication: My thoughts remain with Houston, Texas, please stay strong for me. And to all human beings, may there always be love. Sending love & kindness. 

​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand - written on September 15th 2017.
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