Guest guest Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 "H. V. Shivadas" <shivadas (AT) gandhfoundationusa (DOT) com> wrote: "H. V. Shivadas" <shivadas (AT) gandhfoundationusa (DOT) com> <hvshivadas > 9/11 Message Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:48:32 -0400 v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } Dearest Friends: September 11th is the date of two globally important anniversaries. One of hope and one of horror. One hundred years ago today saw the birth of the movement founded by Mahatma Gandhi known as “Satyagraha”, literally meaning “holding on to truth”. It was the movement that eventually brought about the independence of India through non-violent means, making it the largest democratic republic in the world today. The Satyagraha Movement also gave birth a half century later to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, which finally brought all people in America the equality promised by the U.S. Constitution; again, through non-violent means. Five years ago today, 19 men representing a hate-filled and intolerant radical view of the Islamic religion murdered 3,000 innocent people in an attempt to bring down “the Great Satan America.” It was a day that united all Americans, regardless of their political leanings or of their religious affiliations. It was a day that saw the entire world stand shoulder to shoulder with America. It was a day when the universal Truth of freedom and equality was assaulted as it never had been before. Today the term “9/11” carries a double meaning for us all. Forever more, this date carries a bitter-sweet significance for all humanity. It is a day of celebration and a day of mournful remembrance. It is a day when the Truth of the ultimate sanity of humanity was established in modern times, and a day when the potential insanity of human hatred was displayed at the cost of 3,000 martyrs to Truth. It is significant to me that this anniversary represents the human condition: The sublime best of human nature juxtaposed with the worst of human nature. Our tears of joy have been turned to tears of mourning. And yet, those tears of mourning must be turned, once again, into the kind of tears that are squeezed from our eyes through sheer determination not to give up or give in to hatred or intolerance. Ahimsa, commonly translated as non-violence, is not the same as pacifism. Ahimsa requires, above all things, courage. Let the term “9/11” hereafter and forever remind us of the great gift that Bapu, our Mahatma, gave us in 1907. Let it remind us Americans of the importance of that legacy in 1967. Let it remind us of the cost of holding aloft the torch of freedom and tolerance in 2007. And let it always remind us that we must forever remain determined to never forget, nor fail to defend and hold ourselves courageously, in the face of those who would take this precious gift from us. Sincerely, Shiv Dr. H.V. Shivadas, D.D. Director of Operations Gandhi Foundation USA Phone: 404-474-2328 www.gandhifoundationusa.com -- Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.2/443 - Release 9/11/2006 How low will we go? Check out Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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