Monthly Archives: October 2012

Jessica, Malala, and Matthew

by

One child was murdered and young teen was shot in the head within a week or so of one another. A child, here in the United States of America, in the state of Colorado, in the city of Westminster, on her way to school. The other, across the world simply asking for the right to go to school.

Jessica and Malala are loved by their families. Each brought sunshine into this world. Each were just following a path given to them. Children and young people are good at that. Adults all too soon lose sight of this. Who knows what each of these two would have done for the world if given the chance. Maybe they did enough.

Hopefully, they brought attention to how we are more alike, than different.

We are world torn apart by selfishness and greed. Here in the US, we have to be the only one on top; the right one; the one who has been given the only religion that brings us to God; the one who will fire the first shot to protect the good and to get rid of the evil. In Malala’s world, only the men can be on top following their one right religion that brings them to God; the ones who fire the first shot to protect the good and to get rid of the evil, a young woman who just wanted to go to school.

I don’t know the answer. The violence in today’s world confuses me. Those in favor of guns and war keep saying these are the answer – everyone must be armed and fight back in order to eradicate evil. It’s not working. And who will be the one to ultimately define evil? Where do we draw the line?

This October 7th also marked the 14th anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard. Was he evil? Did he need to be eradicated so we could be safe? He, too, was simply following his given path in a country that supposedly guarantees the right to do so. Matthew’s path seemed to frighten people enough to kill him.

I don’t know the answer. What we have done since the very beginning of time isn’t working. Killing to make killing stop isn’t working. Maybe we need to find some other solution. Maybe we need to put down our weapons and place our fears in the hands of Someone or Spirit bigger than ourselves and trust in the message.

I don’t know. Maybe if each one of us would try to eradicate the hatred inside of our own being, take care of getting rid of the ugly hate lurking beneath each breath, big or microscopic, maybe things could change. I don’t know.

Maybe it’s worth a try.