The other day a friend of mine told me he had the answer to terrorism. He told me that current Homeland Security measures in the U.S. were completely ineffective and that the public was going to have to become more vigilant in order to prevent further attacks; that we were all going to have to have to keep a collective eye out for “unusual faces” and “out-of-place people” and “suspicious characters”.

My ego, of course, thought he had a good point … After all, removing our shoes at the airport is certainly not making us any safer, and the American government is obviously incapable of preventing further terrorist attacks, so it liked the idea that we should start casting a prying eye upon all the strangers in our midst …

And yet, there is a very big problem with this approach: namely, it ensures victory for all terrorists.

Indeed, the minute we start spying on each other out of fear is the very minute terrorists will finally have struck the “coup de gras” in their war on our freedom. It is this very sort of paranoid response that will actually encourage more attacks in the future.

No, my Friends, we have come to a time in our history when it is time to stop merely doing what is “right” and start responding instead in ways that are unconventionally EFFECTIVE.

The only way to put out the fire of fear is to douse it with its opposite force … and we all know exactly what fear’s opposing force is — LOVE.

Yes, it’s going to take a few thousand folks with a lot of guts to heal this societal wound, and yet I have faith that we as a species are finally ready to turn the corner on this challenge.   I believe we are finally ready to respond to terror with courage as opposed to cowardice.

And make no mistake, if we fail to rise to the Call; if we fail to answer violence  with the real strength of Peace — if we choose instead to respond to fear with force of our own, then we will indeed sink rapidly into our next Dark Ages of misery & despair.

On the other hand, if we exhibit the courage to face fear with resolute Kindness & openly radical Forgiveness, then terrorists will have no more fuel for their fire — They will have to either cease being terrorists or, at the very least, look elsewhere for their victims.

So, when the next attack comes, please remember that your future is not in their hands, but rather your own … For the sake of Humanity, have the courage to face your fears that would have you lash out & condemn; have the courage to free yourself from your primitive illusions of “evil” & “enemy”, have the courage to actively remember that everyone on this planet — even those who are deluded with angst & aggression — are your brothers & your sisters …

… and then have the courage to respond accordingly.
Thank you.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing … only I will remain.” ~ Frank Herbert

Filed under: The War on WAR by Scaughdt