Cultivating a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence in the Face of Tragedy (Page 1 of 2)
August 7, 2008By:
As the news slammed into us on a Sunday morning that someone had opened fire at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, immediate expressions were disbelief, sorrow, anxiety, horror, shock.
Then the questions began with concerns about our friends who were there — who is hurt and who is OK? What can we do to help? And then, naturally, as the whole thing washed over us, questions about what had actually happened.
It’s only natural to try to understand why this happened, why these people, why on this day? “Trying to make sense of it,” is how the media put it, concluding that we will likely never know all of the answers.
Well, yes and no.
We’ll never know the answer to the mystery of the randomness of suffering because there isn’t one. Why this person? “Because he was closest to the door” doesn’t seem enough of an answer.
Other questions are being answered because the shooter wrote a note. Why this congregation? There was a link, at least in the shooter’s mind, to the things that troubled him so deeply. Why this day? It may well have been just the time he settled on, as anger and despair congealed in his mind, driving him to pack his shotgun in a guitar case…
“Senseless” is the word most use to describe it all. I would gently beg to differ. As the terrible shock begins to wear off and the roller coaster of recovery that accompanies every trauma takes over, each of us touched by this tragedy should realize we are not helpless to understand at least some of the factors that created this moment of evil.
Making sense of it starts here: We live in a culture of violence.
Violence seems like it erupts terribly and randomly, like a faulty pressure relief valve, but it’s more complicated than that. What would possess any person to think a gun is an acceptable or appropriate way to express anger or to seek redress for a complaint? How does a person get such a dangerous weapon, anyway, and all those shells, each packed with dozens of pieces of metal?
If this shooter imagined himself doing this, which his writings indicate he did, where did those images come from? If he conceived himself the Rambo-rescuer of society from the forces of liberalism, a vigilante for the forces of right against the tide of tolerance practiced by the Unitarians, how was that idea planted and how was it nurtured? As the hurts of his personal life grew, who or what applied the relentless pressure that demanded of him, finally, that he act to relieve it?
At least one news source named names, citing his reading list and quotes from his manifesto. I’m all for accountability, but the forces are greater than that. Radio jocks and others who make tons of money with inflammatory rhetoric are not guiltless — their rants have power and they know it, and their advertisers know it and their listeners know it and their station managers and programmers know it, and they all bear some responsibility for the ways this language shapes the culture of incivility we live in. But they are at the same time a product of this culture of violence; they nurture it, enable it, further it but they did not create it.
Last January I sat in a room at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church and listened to Steve Leeper, chairman of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, as he introduced Takashi Teramoto, a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima. Teramoto-san knew first hand the horror that would come to TVUUC seven months later, multiplied by tens of thousands. In the introduction, Steve explained that Hiroshima survivors were on a mission to spread the idea of a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence.
What would that look like?
It may be hard to picture at first, but if you start to think about it, you realize in lots of ways it would be the opposite of the culture in which we live and move and have our being. Our entertainment is often violent — Grand Theft Auto, World of Warcraft; our recreation is often violent — big-time football, hockey, wrestling; movie-makers seem to be in competition to see who can simulate the most graphic violence, usually with little purpose other than to sell tickets, and sell they do.
aTj1Gh <a href="http://vjddskonvcww.com/">vjddskonvcww</a>, [url=http://uxqsxtxlhxft.com/]uxqsxtxlhxft[/url], [link=http://tfhdxmjvzsla.com/]tfhdxmjvzsla[/link], http://crmvbbcjucdz.com/
We have been an ebay power seller and paypal confirmed seller of <a href=http://www.wowgoldprice.org>wow gold</a> for years.
I know some <a href=http://www.wowgoldshopping.com>wow gold</a> in wow.
<a href=http://www.webhostingbluebook.org/forum/member.php?u=4095>mature women galleries</a> pbxswmh <a href=http://www.pearlandgossip.com/member.php?u=1009>mature nylons</a> kkueuwi <a href=http://luxinfo.ch/forums/member.php?u=1061>mature escort</a> cwtnlxx <a href=http://www.redistrictinggame.org/vbulletin/member.php?u=1013>mature women nude</a> imuowef <a href=http://www.gamelab.com/forums/member.php?u=3101>mature granny</a>
<a href=http://www.frunder.com/supportforum/member.php?u=5530>nude girlfriends</a> lqausnn <a href=http://www.missyconfidential.com.au/forums/member.php?u=4288>scarlett johansson nude</a> qlgebpe <a href=http://www.mobile-advice.co.uk/forums/member.php?u=8926>mature bbw</a> jesokua <a href=http://www.flaghi76.com/vbulletin_database/member.php?u=724>mature legs</a> sbnjnql <a href=http://www.bike.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=5182>mature blowjobs</a>
[url=http://www.zingtech.com/forums/member.php?u=2146]nude pictures[/url] lfkcrng [url=http://www.cbtsgaming.com/member.php?u=728]jessica alba nude[/url] dbtpcvm [url=http://kickassvipporn.com/forum/member.php?u=2510]wwe divas nude[/url] ueradkh [url=http://cropc.net/game/member.php?u=885]nude teens[/url] ovtpqlj [url=http://flooringchat.com/member.php?u=980]submitted wives nude pics[/url]
<a href=http://www.growstronger.com/forum/member.php?u=1830>disney's raven symone nude</a> qovngun <a href=http://www.periploigroup.com/employer/forum/member.php?u=1137>debbie clemens nude</a> xcbusao <a href=http://www.happy-hour.com/forum/member.php?u=774>vanessa anne hudgens nude</a> dcbktfr <a href=http://www.iphoneappr.com/forum/member.php?u=2984>tila tequila nude</a> gbwjccb <a href=http://www.barthailand.com/forum/member.php?u=2748>vanessa hudgens nude</a>
<a href=http://moviedisney.com/forum/member.php?u=403>traci bingham nude</a>prvtxpp<a href=http://www.deathwhisper.net/forums/member.php?u=591>lil kim nude</a>qrkplar<a href=http://www.bcaforums.com/forums/member.php?u=101>kate hudson nude</a>ercechf<a href=http://www.attraction-forum.com/member.php?u=2957>carrie underwood nude</a>ovcxubk<a href=http://www.myhondaforums.com/member.php?u=2786>hot nude models</a>gcrdmom<a href=http://www.movies-songs.com/member.php?u=4273>emily 18 nude</a>cedqeic<a href=http://www.magicalcastle.net/member.php?u=85>helen hunt nude</a>mxdfqae<a href=http://cyfglobal.com/member.php?u=5>traci lords nude</a>dhjhrnd<a href=http://www.engine-tuner.com/member.php?u=794>nude volleyball</a>itdfowc<a href=http://www.blacknblueracing.com/forums/member.php?u=213>jamie lynn spears nude</a>
<a href=http://forums.itinstant.com/member.php?u=2714>keeley hazell nude</a>jidikdi<a href=http://dev.redistrictinggame.org/vbulletin/member.php?u=1120>kelly monaco nude</a>ixxxkko<a href=http://hondacbclub.co.cc/member.php?u=126>teen nude art</a>cwnppsi<a href=http://www.naruto.pl/forum/member.php?u=1948>marisa tomei nude</a>usoilkp<a href=http://www.einvestorhelp.com/member.php?u=32595>brooke hogan nude</a>wwahlow<a href=http://buzzgrove.com/member.php?u=66>amy smart nude</a>hohssrg<a href=http://www.google-talk.com/forum/member.php?u=5424>kelly ripa nude</a>hwhqejn<a href=http://gamesclubforum.com/member.php?u=119>chyna nude</a>vmktvfi<a href=http://gospelofthekingdomforums.org/member.php?u=4327>ann angel nude</a>
<a href=http://forums.antwow.com/member.php?u=2711>nude pictures</a>grpkrfp<a href=http://adsenseforum.us/member.php?u=142>amanda peet nude</a>feaxnkj<a href=http://t420.com/forums/member.php?u=19>anime nude</a>debiiaa<a href=http://forums.watchthesimpsonsonline.com/member.php?u=1249>erotic nude photos</a>dwsmmam<a href=http://www.ajaxscripts.com/member.php?u=534>nude photos</a>flhxkxt<a href=http://wallstreetdancers.com/member.php?u=15665>nude teens</a>lnercqu<a href=http://motokurg.ru/forum/member.php?u=3232>emma watson fake nude photos</a>qgktudn<a href=http://www.racequeenblog.com/forum/member.php?u=3354>nude exercise</a>
<a href=http://www.suddenlyslimmer.com/forums/member.php?u=747>hudgens nude photo</a>hmtqvtv<a href=http://www.omri-moh.net/vb/member.php?u=68>nude milf</a>tplebmt<a href=http://www.craq.org/member.php?u=1710>vanessa anne hudgens nude pictures</a>cjdnatg<a href=http://www.ddukonline.org/forum/member.php?u=1932>poppy montgomery nude</a>njnwxmi<a href=http://www.southafrica-forum.net/member.php?u=4343>raquel welch nude</a>rhlwbov<a href=http://www.area51metro.com/member.php?u=31556>cote de pablo nude</a>ixvhfto<a href=http://www.naturallyyoumagazine.com/forum/member.php?u=4599>michelle trachtenberg nude</a>hnddkcp<a href=http://www.marketpot.com/member.php?u=500>emma watson nude fakes</a>
<a href=http://clandbgt.com/member.php?u=173>leah remini nude</a>rgdvass<a href=http://carprojex.co.uk/member.php?u=181>submitted wives nude pics</a>tqockfi<a href=http://houseboatfanatic.com/member.php?u=609>scarlett johansson nude</a>pwemevc<a href=http://vinoforums.com/forum/member.php?u=3464>vanessa hudgens nude photos</a>jbpncge<a href=http://illusionclan.kross-server.info/forums/member.php?u=375>nude vanessa hudgens</a>jfaxobr<a href=http://www.firstpeoplesvote.com/fpc/discussion/member.php?u=1645>hudgens nude</a>ewtnngh<a href=http://www.northshorenation.com/forum/member.php?u=8369>demi moore nude</a>wihqsns<a href=http://forums.nfsjunkies.com/member.php?u=115>ashley massaro nude</a>ijeoauh<a href=http://www.missbobbies.com/forums/member.php?u=2198>april scott nude</a>
[url=http://www.bballboards.com/member.php?u=4059]kendra wilkinson nude[/url]jmoehfq[url=http://www.astrominia.com/forum/member.php?u=2490]vanessa hudgens nude pics[/url]asjkhlj[url=http://testerscafe.com/member.php?u=509]antonella barba nude[/url]rxhlcqr[url=http://thehostlink.com/member.php?u=2372]flavor flav girls nude[/url]cqbnoxk[url=http://www.periploigroup.com/employer/forum/member.php?u=1224]olsen twins nude[/url]fpsbeot[url=http://www.townshipguild.com/forums/member.php?u=483]halle berry nude[/url]lvhjffh[url=http://www.tradingandinvesting4u.com/forums/member.php?u=336]girls next door nude[/url]dusspxg[url=http://forums.meandisis.com/member.php?u=1349]fake nude celebs[/url]kumecji[url=http://www.ladiesbehave.com/member.php?u=688]kate winslet nude[/url]viupatb[url=http://www.marketinghideout.com/member.php?u=555]katie price nude[/url]
<a href=http://www.sns-online.org/SuperClub/forum/upload/member.php?u=1317>jennifer love hewitt nude</a>wxjckka<a href=http://www.9500i.net/forum/member.php?u=1110>anne hathaway nude</a>vgbojqt<a href=http://forum.travian.cat/member.php?u=3134>natalie portman nude</a>iluqepi<a href=http://www.supernetstation.com/member.php?u=4325>brooke burke nude</a>cnjivtx<a href=http://www.positivelyamericanbook.com/forums/member.php?u=4008>hot nude girls</a>vhlgajr<a href=http://mrwongsdeals.com/community/member.php?u=326>amanda bynes nude</a>qwqinqs<a href=http://www.succeeddespitepain-forum.com/forum/member.php?u=1596>young natural nude girls</a>ajbahaa<a href=http://www.gamerworld.nl/forum/member.php?u=22960>american idol nude</a>
<a href=http://www.footballclips.net/forum/member.php?u=28219>ashley tisdale naked</a>xioomso<a href=http://larywin.me.uk/member.php?u=10260>jennifer lopez naked</a>cirlfjh<a href=http://www.broadway.tv/broadway-community/forum/member.php?u=1612>tila tequila naked</a>wjeuehk<a href=http://discusshub.com/forum/member.php?u=435>naked teenies</a>rhsmbel<a href=http://www.devonbusinessforum.co.uk/member.php?u=3316>jennifer love hewitt naked</a>qcvtoub<a href=http://f4bhq.eliott-ness.com/forums/member.php?u=3286>pictures of jaime lynn spears naked</a>mkuxpds<a href=http://www.windowsforums.com/member.php?u=1832>teens naked</a>rwbpafe<a href=http://skincareboards.com/member.php?u=1900>marcia cross nude</a>
<a href=http://www.algore.org/user/amanda_beard_nude>amanda beard nude</a>dmeviii<a href=http://www.algore.org/user/daniel_radcliffe_nude>daniel radcliffe nude</a>bgaggcc<a href=http://www.algore.org/user/jessica_biel_nude>jessica biel nude</a>auafrrb<a href=http://www.algore.org/user/megan_fox_nude_0>megan fox nude</a>vkqmcod<a href=http://www.algore.org/user/debbie_clemens_nude>debbie clemens nude</a>sfnjbqj<a href=http://www.algore.org/user/kendra_wilkinson_nude>kendra wilkinson nude</a>
<a href=http://www.algore.org/user/hayden_panettiere_nude>hayden panettiere nude</a>aodlqos<a href=http://dezinedepot.com/user/15509>antonella barba nude pics</a>fjkbrje<a href=http://lexelerator.eu/?q=user/1429>denise richards nude</a>hbdqrpp<a href=http://www.spin.com/users/mariah-carey-nude>mariah carey nude</a>xqckfbq<a href=http://www.skirt.com/user/10225>nude gymnastics</a>dswfglx<a href=http://www.skirt.com/user/10224>amanda bynes nude</a>kqrmfws<a href=http://www.skirt.com/user/10223>jenna jameson nude</a>
<a href=http://forums.motormint.com/member.php?u=324>angelina jolie naked</a>rcrafom<a href=http://www.wonwonwon.com/forum/member.php?u=2602>dr laura nude</a>ljxreow<a href=http://www.munzer.ca/us/forums/member.php?u=487>april scott nude</a>utavhil<a href=http://www.cbsilverblades.com/forum/member.php?u=285>katie rees nude</a>nobinuv<a href=http://www.datadrome.com/forum/member.php?u=8591>nude supermodels</a>xareahp<a href=http://www.customerthink.com/user/kate_winslet_nude>kate winslet nude</a>bupvprk<a href=http://www.customerthink.com/user/sarah_silverman_nude>sarah silverman nude</a>
[url=http://www.zingtech.com/forums/member.php?u=2400]jessica alba nude[/url]idorvvh[url=http://board.team-assault.de/member.php?u=1503]debbie clemens nude[/url]rhhvugt[url=http://gamingatbest.com/member.php?u=6]miley cyrus nude[/url]kldxlbu[url=http://www.ancestor.com/forums/member.php?u=1441]nude young girls[/url]cpavoof[url=http://www.spielkit.com/forums/member.php?u=3716]vanessa anne hudgens nude[/url]ppmieaq[url=http://www.centralrock.net/member.php?u=355]rihanna naked[/url]vjhkpbg[url=http://forums.healthywellness.net/member.php?u=3894]cameron diaz naked[/url]dmotfro[url=http://www.vakaru.com/forum/member.php?u=4719]hot naked guys[/url]ndwsokd[url=http://die.lurkcorp.com/forum/member.php?u=495]celebrity naked[/url]
<a href=http://www.thesoccerforums.com/member.php?u=1310>hot nude gallery</a> rdfsdvm <a href=http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=pornoyoutube>porno you tube</a> xaswkpb <a href=http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=youtubeporn>you tube porn</a> roxsbni <a href=http://www.videocodezone.com/users/nudedaniel>nude daniel radcliff</a> nsnirso <a href=http://www.videocodezone.com/users/ytreswaes>nude danielle radcliffe</a> aperkiu <a href=http://www.videocodezone.com/users/trishstratus>trish stratus nude fakes</a> plhhdbb <a href=http://www.videocodezone.com/users/peoplerr>terry nude</a> csccvmk <a href=http://www.videocodezone.com/users/freeter>video game heroines nude</a>
<a href=http://www.minglecity.com/forum/member.php?u=60147>lesbian teen cheerleaders</a> cdttnuh <a href=http://flooringchat.com/member.php?u=156>lesbian lickers</a> mbqqrlq <a href=http://www.my-hiend.com/vbb//member.php?u=3479>lesbian analingus</a> qwjvexj <a href=http://www.bazycom.com/forum/member.php?u=492>lesbian teen cheerleaders</a> vpiborp <a href=http://www.kaboodle.com/scarlett_johansson>scarlett johansson nude</a> stjovkq <a href=http://www.kaboodle.com/trishstratus>trish stratus nude</a> giqunco <a href=http://www.kaboodle.com/hudgensnude>hudgens nude</a> mckffdf <a href=http://www.dmwmedia.com/user/nude-vanessa-hudgens>nude vanessa hudgens</a> xhiatnj <a href=http://www.edge-online.com/users/amanda-bynes>amanda bynes nude</a> frtjhiu <a href=http://www.scarleteen.com/user/jenna_jameson_nude>jenna jameson nude</a>
[url=http://blogcampcee.com/en/users/eva-mendez-nude]eva mendez nude[/url] lrvtxns [url=http://www.javaworld.com/community/user/19621]katie price nude[/url] klwkeoh [url=http://www.disciplesconnect.com/user/273]helen mirren nude[/url] bjuhonn [url=http://khojworkshop.org/user/katherine_heigl]katherine heigl nude[/url] oogckdt [url=http://spin.com/users/mickie-james]kate winslet nude[/url] wmcegnb [url=http://tortuga.com/portal/user/2340]kate winslet nude[/url] nxgmhji [url=http://steelerslive.com/users/sarah_silverman_nude]sarah silverman nude[/url] hajfjrm [url=http://community.freespeech.org/user/nicole_kidman_nude]nicole kidman nude[/url]
[url=http://www.livevideo.com/milakunis]mila kunis nude[/url] xrdkapl [url=http://www.livevideo.com/dollyparton]dolly parton nude[/url] cpolxab [url=http://www.planetpapers.com/profile.php?Username=bridget_marquard]bridget marquardt nude[/url] fojttmd [url=http://hubpages.com/profile/pornography]pornography nude women[/url] pgicllt [url=http://www.kaboodle.com/elisha_cuthbert_nude]elisha cuthbert nude[/url] fibaqxk [url=http://www.livevideo.com/hotnude]hot nude women[/url] hrccrjn [url=http://www.livevideo.com/patriciaheaton]patricia heaton nude[/url] xhddqrl [url=http://www.planetpapers.com/profile.php?Username=sarah_chalke]sarah chalke nude[/url] uwtkjth [url=http://www.kaboodle.com/nude_girlfriend]nude girlfriend[/url] ibnksgu [url=http://www.kaboodle.com/jamie_lynn_spears]jamie lynn spears nude[/url]
[url=http://amoreperfectconstitution.com/forum/member.php?u=1019]gay hollywood rumors[/url] sfaivqq [url=http://forums.wowge.com/member.php?u=1281]gay massage manhattan[/url] pdewdxf [url=http://www.strongbeliefs.com/member.php?u=155]manchester gay escorts[/url] ffsgvux [url=http://workgroups.mchtraining.net/member.php?u=258]gay adoption pro and con[/url] jlhjpix [url=http://www.hotgameshop.net/forum/member.php?u=13348]manchester gay escorts[/url] eubspjw [url=http://www.vr4network.com/vr4funny/member.php?u=4895]gay adoption pro and con[/url] rskvmof [url=http://www.ourmanga.com/forum/member.php?u=113]gay chatroom[/url] txmkrvv [url=http://www.kaboodle.com/mileycyruse]miley cyrus nude pics[/url] ixqufxm [url=http://www.kaboodle.com/sexynude]sexy nude babes[/url]
<a href=http://www.livevideo.com/diorabaird>diora baird nude</a>hndmmxs<a href=http://www.livevideo.com/petewentz>pete wentz nude</a>daaeorp<a href=http://www.disease-treatment.com/member.php?u=28343>keira knightley nude</a>kfltmev<a href=http://www.albertareptilesociety.org/forum/member.php?u=4720>salma hayek nude</a>owvanlc<a href=http://www.valkerijforum.nl/member.php?u=2254>sarah silverman nude</a>wwxxxjm<a href=http://www.funhouserock.com/funhouse/blab/member.php?u=3195>sexy nude women</a>nrcodqh<a href=http://www.aquarial.co.uk/member.php?u=1449>mature nude women</a>
<a href=http://www.kaboodle.com/lauremanaudou>laure manaudou nude</a>uhahfqb<a href=http://www.kaboodle.com/lindahogan>linda hogan nude</a>tlrmrlh<a href=http://www.digitalgab.com/member.php?u=15126>morgan webb nude</a>evwduho<a href=http://www.videogameslive.com/forums/member.php?u=12626>nude celebritys</a>lritrxk<a href=http://www.resellerclubtalk.com/member.php?u=1906>vanessa williams nude</a>xaggrtj<a href=http://jetskiforums.com/member.php?u=735>rosario dawson nude</a>frxrvjd<a href=http://www.geekcube.com/forum/member.php?u=2471>keeley hazell nude</a>
<a href=http://www.kaboodle.com/terihatcher>teri hatcher nude</a>lbeusbj<a href=http://www.newdivinity.com/forums/member.php?u=1911>jamie lee curtis nude</a>puhqlme<a href=http://www.kaboodle.com/amandapeet>amanda peet nude</a>auwelbu<a href=http://www.digitalblogclub.com/member.php?u=927>gillian anderson nude</a>orpxrgm<a href=http://www.servicemaxrealty.com/forums/member.php?u=2349>submitted wives nude pics</a>qkeplkp<a href=http://veniceforums.com/member.php?u=435>kelly monaco nude</a>aqpiqqk<a href=http://www.sporecounty.com/forum/member.php?u=2417>olivia munn nude</a>inigkls<a href=http://www.optimalhealthtodayforum.com/forums/member.php?u=916>denise milani nude</a>
<a href=http://sexmovies.forall.be/member.php?u=232>nude gymnast</a>wjclpbb<a href=http://www.videocodezone.com/users/oilynudes>oily nudes</a>biicdnk<a href=http://www.biologicalscienceforum.com/member.php?u=3116>reese witherspoon nude</a>tdmtnxf<a href=http://www.djroog.com/forum/member.php?u=3140>patricia heaton nude</a>dgbeubq<a href=http://www.app2us.com/forums/member.php?u=4222>nude dudes</a>oedupea<a href=http://www.kaboodle.com/hilaryswank>hilary swank nude</a>bjcsjlc<a href=http://www.videocodezone.com/users/sexyteengirls>sexy teen girls nude</a>jkkugfg<a href=http://www.videocodezone.com/users/nudeshannon>nude shannon elizabeth topless</a>