81. The war on terrorism is fought in the heart
OK folks. Let’s face it. We are, at the dawn of the third millennium, living the Third World War. As in every other World War, there is of course an enemy. Or at least we think so. Do we?
◊◊◊
Yeah! It’s the war against terrorism!
Or is it against terrorists?
Should it not be against the cause of there being terrorists?
Maybe it’s really against the own people?
Hey!
Is there actually an enemy at all?
Or is it just a War?
Should it not be a World Peace against Terrorism?
◊◊◊
Is that not a nice idea? Let’s declare right now the First World Peace against Terrorism! Good! Let’s go for it! We will fight it on the ground. We will fight it at sea. We will fight it in the air. And, above all, we will fight it in the heart. Every heart! We shall not surrender! Dear citizens of all nations, from now on, We Are At Peace!
◊◊◊
A particularly good way to make someone your enemy is of course to call him your enemy.
◊◊◊
Terrorists are not the enemy. They are only the indicator that something else is wrong. Take away the indicator and you are your own worst nightmare. Is that not obvious? Moreover, this indicator has sophisticated means of communication, namely ears and mouths. So if you have anything to say, then go and talk with them. Show your heart. Show what you want and need. Listen to what they want and need. Never ending. Remember the promise and never surrender.
◊◊◊
Naïve?
Not at all.
◊◊◊
It’s naïve to think anything else. The war on terrorism is fought in the heart and nowhere else. The heart of the terrorist as well as your heart. Yes, dear reader, I mean it: your heart. That’s where everything starts. If you don’t start with your own heart, then who will? Do you think the world is waiting for anyone else but you?
◊◊◊
With due respect, that would be naïve.
◊◊◊
So here we are: in this First World Peace against Terrorism, we are all soldiers. Even more: we are all at the front line. As in any other ‘War’, any single soldier may think himself dispensable… but he isn’t. Everyone is very important. No one should desert. On desertion stands the penalty of death. In this case: a living death, a moral death, a death in the heart.
◊◊◊
Related Posts
Compassionate Realism
Classical realism has long dominated international relations, portraying the world as a dangerous jungle where survival demands power and mistrust. Yet this view overlooks the depth of human reality, the significance of symbols, and the transformative power of Compassion. Compassionate Realism aims to widen the lens: not to deny danger, but to see survival and Read the full article…
Poetry is Not the Absence of Rationality
Nevertheless, to many people, it seems to be so. I find this dangerous. It sets both against each other and precludes a nice being-human in full potential. [see also: “Rationality and Poetry”] Mistrusting ‘the expert’ Experts frequently bend on their rational stance to lend them authority to speak and even decide what others should do. Read the full article…
The Fear of Losing Geo-Moral Status
On the world stage, morality functions like a flag — a symbol nations wave to show their virtue and justify their actions. Yet beneath these noble gestures lies the more mundane fear of losing geo-moral status. When moral identity becomes a form of power, its defense can lead to a state of blindness. This blog Read the full article…