http://indymedia.org.il
The key
author: ct
"We each have the ability to make conscious
choices in how we behave towards others. That is
the key; all acts of violence are conscious
choices - there is no such thing as 'mindless
violence'."
Couldn't agree more, Dave. That IS the key.
Many years ago I attended a seminar; one of the basic things there was a big sign with the motto "If you want to, you also can" fixed on the wall. Everytime someone said a sentence starting with "I can't do this or that because..." the trainer replied with the nicest smile on his face "Sure you can, but probably you don't want to. So please say 'I don't want to...', for that's reality. And if you like, we may take a look then at what you gain by not wanting to..."
And the very same is true for statements of the kind "I had no choice but to do this or that because...".
I learned a big lesson there. As you so well put it: we always have a choice, and we are making decisions.
"We choose how we feel. Hatred is a choice, just as
love or any other emotion is. No one can be
FORCED to hate, it is always a conscious choice.
Admitting this is a huge leap toward being a
responsible adult."
Again, I couldn't agree more. Yet I have to admit that taking responsibility for your own feelings is one of the most difficult things to do.
As you say, no one can be forced to hate, and no one can be forced to love either.
Yet feelings as such are not the problem; even if you hate somebody like hell, you still may decide (sic!) to treat him respectfully. The nasty stuff starts as soon as someone decides to permit his hate to take over...
As the saying goes: "There is only one person on earth who really can make you happy, and there also is just one person on earth who really can make you unhappy: this person is yourself."
"...and inner peace is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and each other."
There always is a tight link between peace inside and outside. Someone who is at war with himself will never be able to bring peace to others.
This is why people like Sharon, for example, are so strong when it comes to wage war. And so incredibly weak when they are supposed to make peace.
PS: I utterly appreciate your postings too, Dave. As I've already said in another place: those with an open heart always recognize each other, don't they?