Focus on Peace: Boston Bombings
We live in Cultures of Violence where we are learning about it through film, videos and unhappiness in society. It is seen as exciting and masculine. Do you think it is time to change?
In my view it is not just about finding out who is responsible and punishing them it is getting to the root problem and understanding what is motivating violence.
I am a peace educator and when I hear children say violence is cool without any understanding of empathy that seems to be where seeds are planted. I know of a young girl who said she was worried she wasn’t caring about people, her father is disconnected. I spoke to an Indian man yesterday about Gandhi and the importance of nonviolence. He was cynical about Gandhi and I am learning many Indians are. I reminded him of what Gandhi taught ‘to be the change you wish to see in the world’. We spoke of Syria and he saw no hope for the Arabs as they seek revenge. I told him nonviolence is the way. Until men see that their masculinity is not about being tough and unfeeling it is about being fully human, then we will start to see a shift. I say the same to women who have hardened their hearts with anger.
You have to solve the problem not hate the person, understand why a person or group feels motivated to hurt or bomb others, why he sees this as the only course, what he thinks he will gain from it, why he doesn’t feel for other people. What is driving his pain and anger?
I am seeing a cry for help across our world in the increasing violence masking deeper social problems and the inability to work through emotions nonviolently. Until we face ourselves and look with truthfulness and love, we will just keep hearing of ongoing tragedies. Conflict resolution and peace education should be core subjects in schools not just associated with wellbeing but the foundation to education.
The issue of gun violence is an interesting subject here in Australia. Many here can’t understand why anyone in the US wants to arm themselves. I think the Canadians would be similar and the British. If you want to reduce violence do not give people the tools to enable them to be violent and go into problem solving on the why’s. I do not believe in punishing people I believe in educating them. When your mind and heart changes you will never harm another.
From my perspective peace education for both adults and children is the way. When I was in the United States I was told by a teacher that people perceive peace education as Communist, I just looked with surprise. I was told by some peace educators that had to struggle to get their work in schools, I saw them not united in a network to share this vision. Until peace becomes a word we can embrace without seeing hippies and and flower power, you do not understand the real meaning. I might add I am definitely a hippy but I am also an economist and analyst. I see the side of myself that loves freedom and peace as my highest perspective. I am also a clown so that is definitely free hugs. I am truly interested in life, liberty and happiness. I don’t have to be American to uphold those values as they are universal to every person on the planet.
What I am saying to you is decide what you want to choose for the future of children, choose it with all your heart and it will come to you. You have more power than you know, when you work for peace and best interest you will find the happiness many are still seeking through entertainments and mindless games.
Find out the truth of matters then act with the determination of love for all concerned. I send love to the 145 people hurt in the Bostom bombings and may the violence that is being seen overtime be used as a catalyst to disarm and to find real protection in conflict resolution, building bridges internationally, and inner peace.
With love, a peace clown
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-will-hold-whoever-carried-out-boston-explosions-accountable-says-president-obama-8574344.html
US will hold whoever carried out Boston explosions accountable, says President Obama
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President Barack Obama
vowed today that the United States will find out who carried out
explosions in Boston and will hold them accountable, and a White House
official said the twin blasts are being treated as an “act of terror.”
“We still do not know who did this or why, and people shouldn’t jump to conclusions before we have all the facts,” Obama said in a televised statement. “But make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this, and we will find out who did this, we’ll find out why they did this.”
Obama did not call the explosions an attack and emphasized that much was not known about them. But a White House official said any event with multiple explosive devices, as the Boston episode appeared to be, “is clearly an act of terror, and will be approached as an act of terror.”
“However, we don’t yet know who carried out this attack, and a thorough investigation will have to determine whether it was planned and carried out by a terrorist group, foreign or domestic,” the official said.
The Boston explosions put the White House on edge with the Secret Service raising security around the executive mansion. Obama said he has directed the federal government to increase security around the United States as necessary after the explosions.
The blasts offered a fresh challenge to Obama, who early in his second term has been focused on domestic agenda topics such as gun control, immigration and budget deficits.
Obama quickly shifted into a national security mode as soon as he was told about the Boston blasts at 3pm EDT.
He called Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and offered federal assistance. Obama was briefed by FBI Director Bob Mueller and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
“We will find out who did this and we will hold them accountable,” Obama said.
He called Boston a tough and resilient town.
“I’m supremely confident that Bostonians will pull together, take care of each other and move forward as one proud city, and as they do, the American people will be with them every single step of the way,” he said.
Separately, Vice President Joe Biden, in a telephone conference call about proposals to tighten gun laws, offered his prayers as he reacted to images he saw on television from Boston.
“As I’m speaking here, they just turned on the television here in my office. Apparently there has been a bombing. I don’t know any of the details about what caused it, who did it. I don’t think it exists yet,” Biden said.
“But our prayers are with those people in Boston who have suffered injury. I don’t know how many of them there are. I’m still looking at it on television now,” he said.
Biden was speaking off the cuff and did not appear to have any independent knowledge of what caused the explosions.