Guest guest Posted September 15, 2001 Report Share Posted September 15, 2001 Peace to all on this list..... I am usually a silent participant on this list, and have come to respect the amazing wisdom that exists in all of you...... I have to say however, as a peace and human rights worker, and someone who is quite familiar with the effects of war, I am saddened by many of the comments and non-peaceful, non-healing words that have floated through the list the last few days. I only hope that with the passage of time, that healing and love and peace will come. Until then, we only have each other, religious, cultural, national, etc... backgrounds aside. I suggest that as this is a list of natural healing, perhaps we should focus more on healing than on blame and revenge. We must never forget the fine line between justice and revenge..... And that in anger we will often choose the lesser of the two. Please find below a letter I had sent to me from a friend who works with the Psychologists for Social Responsibility. In peace always, Wendi Laing Chairperson, International Society for Peace and Human Rights To the world you may be only one person,But to one person, you may be the world. Responses and Action Possibilities to Terrorist Attacks on US Psychologists for Social Responsibility has been contactedby the media for help with how best to respond to the appallingevents of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001.Our hearts go out to those who have lost their lives, their loved ones,and the families and friends who will now have to face the difficultgrieving process. We condemn the use of violence against civilians andresolve to continue our work to address the many issuesthat often lead to the outbreak of such violence. Many people are experiencing shock, fear, anxiety, rage,sadness, an increased sense of vulnerability, and otherpowerful feelings, all of which make it very difficult for us humansto think and to problem-solve effectively. At this point it isimportant to acknowledge how much we don't know. We need toavoid jumping to conclusions that may be erroneous. Manyqualified and highly trained people are already working to find outwhat happened and who the perpetrators are. We need to givethe professionals a chance to do their work. We have been asked specifically about what to tell children.Children of different ages need different levels of information.Here are some general guidelines for young children: 1) Check with your children to see how they feel.Children often experience these events as concreteand profoundly personal and emotional, and wonder ifharm would happen to them. Adults can help byplacing the event in perspective. 2) Keeping things as normal as possible for children is veryhelpful to their feelings of security, so whenever possible,provide them with regular children's activities. 3) Children may respond to the anxieties felt and expressedby their caregivers. Talk with them about their feelings.them in simple language how you are feeling about the incident.Reassure them that you are watching out for them. 4) Shield children from in-depth discussion of how theadults feel about these events (specifically the recountingof traumatic stories that create vivid images in one's mind'seye and vengeful fantasies of retaliation). 5) Limit the amount of time children spend watching coverageof the attacks. Do not let them watch television coverage ofthese disastrous events by themselves. They need your adultpresence and perspective. 6) What we do is often as important as what we say. Payattention to your reactions because children will take theircues from you. Children often see far more than adults areaware of. Action Possibilities It is human to respond to traumatic events such as theattacks on the US on September 11, 2001, with shock, numbness,grief, confusion, and anger. As practitioners of peace, we cannotafford to become paralyzed at such times. Below we mention a fewconstructive actions that we can undertake ourselves, as well asencourage for others: Take responsibility for our perceptions--do not act hastily onthe basis of stereotypes. Write op-ed pieces or respond to call-in radio shows to inoculatepeople against the tendency to take out their frustrations by threateningor attacking 'foreigners' living in the United States. Offer to facilitate a discussion of the events at localchurches, synagogues, and community centers. Consider making yourself available to community groups, schools,the media, etc. to help people express their feelings in a supportiveatmosphere. For adults as well as children, creating space for grievingand rituals that restore our collective sense of community and relativesafety in public places is vital . When others are discussing modes of retaliation, emphasize theneed to work even harder on the bases for long-lasting peace. Givemore attention to preventive, peacebuilding measures, especially theresolution of protracted conflicts we have around the world. Work for social justice. In the long run, the best insuranceagainst ruthless human action is social justice for all. Encourage people to give blood at the Red Cross to meet thedemand that will obviously be created by the injuries at the Pentagonand World Trade Center. While blood banks may not be able to handlean immediate influx of people, remember that the need continues. Reach out to people who might be alone and frightened. Anne AndersonNational CoordinatorPsychologists for Social Responsibility2604 Connecticut Ave. NWWashington, DC 20008(202) 745-7084(202) 745-0051 faxpsysrusa or psysripnwww.psysr.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2001 Report Share Posted September 15, 2001 You have some good points, and I think anyone in their right mind would want to have peace in lieu of war, but this is NOT a perfect world, and us bombing whoever with peace, love, and flowers is not gonna help any of our people or our position with anyone that matters. Yeah, a few followers of this group may accept us more, but the next Hitler would give a ratsass and perceive us as weaker than ever, and continue their assault on the world one little country at a time. Steve ----------------------------- Peace to all on this list..... I am usually a silent participant on this li st, and have come to respect the amazing wisdom that exists in all of you.. .... I have to say however, as a peace and human rights worker, and someone who is quite familiar with the effects of war, I am saddened by many of the com ments and non-peaceful, non-healing words that have floated through the lis t the last few days. I only hope that with the passage of time, that healin g and love and peace will come. Until then, we only have each other, religi ous, cultural, national, etc... backgrounds aside. I suggest that as this i s a list of natural healing, perhaps we should focus more on healing than o n blame and revenge. We must never forget the fine line between justice and revenge..... And tha t in anger we will often choose the lesser of the two. Please find below a letter I had sent to me from a friend who works with th e Psychologists for Social Responsibility. In peace always, Wendi Laing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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