I Pray for Peace Across the World

(Image credit: http://www.lightworkersworld.com/2012/09/heartfelt-by-will-schnoor-jr/_doves__by_tanakin/ )

“Lord, make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring your love
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord,
And where there’s sadness ever joy.”
~ Part of a Christian prayer/ song, known as ‘Prayer of St. Francis’, ‘Peace Prayer’, or (song) ‘Make Me a Channel of Your Peace’. There are many versions.

Further to my tolerance reblog earlier today – which was planned before the recent tragedies – I want to talk a little more about things.

I pray for peace across the world. If only, if only…
I pray for those affected by the conflicts in this strife-torn world, whoever they are.
I pray that solutions be found and that the people of these conflicts’ needs be considered in these solutions.
I pray that it is recognised that every death matters, wherever in the world each occurs.
I pray for respect towards each other’s differences – that we unite as one rather than divide along well-trodden lines.
I pray for those who feel isolated or abandoned – that they find support and hope rather than violence and despair.
I pray that we reach out to each other rather than turn away from each other.

Hug your family and friends – share your feelings and listen to each other. Do the things you love, your favourite things. Remember that pets are great healers, too.
This is a time for welcome and unity, not accusation and disharmony. It’s a time to stand for compassion, tolerance and peace. For all humanity.

Peace be with you, I pray, wherever you are.

http://unveiledthought.com/2015/11/14/pray-for-paris-pray-for-beirut-pray-for-humanity/
http://unveiledthought.com/2015/11/15/no-i-will-not-drench-my-social-media-in-red-white-blue/
http://chrisgrahamatlarge.com/2015/11/15/paris-attacks-highlight-western-vulnerability-and-our-selective-grief-and-outrage/
https://wordynerdbirdwrites.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/scar/
http://espirational.com/2015/11/13/thought-for-today-770/
http://progressiveconversation.com/2015/11/15/you-cant-fight-an-ideological-war-by-shutting-physical-borders/
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2015/11/14/paris/
https://thepoliticsofwriting.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/aftermath-of-the-paris-attacks/
http://wellthisiswhatithink.com/2015/11/15/do-not-weep-for-the-dead/

Musings on Tolerance (A few links)

The blog post partially reblogged below is written from an Indian perspective – but most if not all can be applied elsewhere (hence the star). Including in Australia.

It’s especially important, perhaps, in light of recent events.

 (from a google image search)

The original link, with the rest of the blog post, is here.
Some further links on this topic:
http://winstonclose.me/2015/10/26/whats-in-a-name-a-right-wing-terrorist-by-any-other-name-would-smell-as-rancid-written-by-john-passant/ – very insightful. The colour of a person’s political stripes doesn’t mean they can’t be a terrorist.
http://theaimn.com/against-radicalisation/ – radicals come in many forms, but are mainly characterised (according to this article) by fervent belief without much critical thought.

What is intolerance and identify its forms? How best to come out of it all?

04 NOV

Intolerance is supposed to have taken place when we do not accept others’ point of view or belief, are not in sync with others’ sensitivities or habits which are different to that of ours, etc. This intolerance could be due to our incapacity to put up with others beliefs and practices. These beliefs and practices could be ritualistic or religious in nature or could be in conflict with our own persisting beliefs and its consequence / spin-off may produce harmful effects on the country as a whole. It should never be forgotten that any over-indulgence in our beliefs and stark disregard or denigrate differing perceptions produces hostility between the communities. Also, the allowable deviation in beliefs, if at all, could be ironed out by sitting of differing communities and reach to a conclusive result by an approach of give and take otherwise intolerance between could result in bad blood and ill-feeling and could prove to be counterproductive to inclusive growth of a country. Divisiveness could spell doom for unity and integrity of a country as well.

Intolerance in any form has disastrous consequences and if not controlled with iron hand can prove ruinous to the inclusive growth first and then shake the very foundation of the state. We should never forget that India* is a pluralistic society and every community has its role to play in its growth and development.