A Bit Low? - Aim Higher!

Terror's Impact!

The events of Friday the 13th in Paris, has had a profound affect on the World, not just Paris and France!  

Once more the fall-out of terrorist acts have us wondering who will be next and feeling angry that this could happen, with such coordinated and deadly consequences.  As the London Telegraph observed:

"There have been seven apparently coordinated terror attacks in Paris carried out by at least seven militants, all wearing suicide vests. At least 129 people are feared to have been killed and 352 are injured."

For the first time since 1958, France has declared a country-wide state of emergency and closed its borders. The Paris Metro and most large museums in Paris are still closed to ensure no large crowds become the next target for those responsible!

Whose to Blame?

Whenever terror rears it ugly head, we want to find and bring to justice 'those to blame'.  We want to put a name and face to terror as it makes us think we have command and control of the situation - false hope in most cases!

 In our zeal, we often associate that face and name with a group, country or religion without regard to the singular fact that typically the acts are perpetrated by a few militants or religious zealots and not the act of any country, people or religious group.

Sadly, when we are feeling troubled, angry, frustrated, and a bit low by such senseless violence, we can be quick to 'tar with the same brush' those who we perceive to 'look like' and, are 'like minded' to those we assume are the  terrorists.

This sort of 'rush to judgment' usually serves no good and can only prolong the cycle of blame and recrimination, with serious unintended consequences to those who are innocent; but, unfortunately, they look like the 'face of terror'! 

As I am fond of saying:

"Jumping to conclusions and running amok are the poorest forms of exercise"!

Guilt by association is one of the main threats to democracy and is often precisely the reason for the acts of terror in the first place - to have us overreact and retaliate against innocent people in the hopes of further sowing the seeds of hatred and fueling the flames of bigotry and base emotions.

Easier Said than Done

That the attacks come two days after the World paused for two minutes at the eleventh hour of the eleventh month to give thanks to those responsible for our freedom, is ironic.  

As the strains of  'The Last Post' still echo in our consciousness these events, like a clarion call, help remind us that those who have experienced war are the first to counsel us to 'turn the other cheek' and be 'peace makers' at all cost.   Further, that the price of war or escalating  racial or religious violence is never worth the heavy toll on our way of life and freedoms.

That way only leads to more violence and retaliatory acts of 'justice'!  As Mahatma Gandhi wisely observed:

“An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”

Of course, it is easier said then done to turn the other cheek and forgive and forget, but setting our sights on the greater good and the higher nature that makes us human is a great place to start!

In his First Inaugural Address on March 4th, 1861, US President Abraham Lincoln, who was grappling  with the grim reality and upheaval of secession that was upon his Nation, counseled restraint and asked of his people:

"Before entering upon so grave a matter as the destruction of our national fabric, with all its benefits, its memories, and its hopes, would it not be wise to ascertain precisely why we do it? Will you hazard so desperate a step while there is any possibility that any portion of the ills you fly from have no real existence? Will you, while the certain ills you fly to are greater than all the real ones you fly from, will you risk the commission of so fearful a mistake?"

His words are as appropriate now, as when he spoke them over  154 years ago!  We must always be cautious about the ills we fly to, just to avoid those we fly from! 

Hits Close to Home

I was away on Friday and learned that something had happened when I was ordering supper at a Middle Eastern Restaurant, a mere two miles from my home.  The male proprietor  made a comment to the effect:

"...that damn Trudeau is talking about letting more Syrians into the Country".

I immediately realized something serious  had taken place to evoke such strident emotion from someone who is usually clam and respectful of all people, especially someone from the same region as his family and ancestors.   

 I suspect this was an overreaction on his part because of his own fears that he and others from the Middle East and those who are Muslim or speak Arabic will be mistreated and denigrated by fellow Canadians - in other words "tarred by the same brush"! 

Probably a valid concern given past history and human nature. Of course, this is precisely why we need all the more to lift our view from the gutter of vengeance and hate and aim for the lofty vision and example that Lincoln and others advocated.

Only by doing so, can we gain perspective, understanding and compassion for those who are innocent of these heinous acts; but, will none-the-less bear some of the loathing that these atrocious acts will engender because 'they look or speak like the terrorists'.

Only by aiming higher can we truly overcome the acts of terror and find peace of mind, confidently  knowing that we win when we steadfastly refuse to fall into the trap that the terrorists sprung on all of us (not just those who were gunned down or ripped apart by the suicide bombs)!

How High Should we Aim?

Once more the words of Abraham Lincoln provide the answer, along with comfort and perspective:

"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

'When we find ourselves in times of trouble', we must all look to the better angels of our nature, turn the other cheek and forgive; if not, forget and 'Let it be'.  

In the last few days we all have become Parisians, as our hearts goes out to the grieving families and a Nation seeking answers and justice, while trying to find the balance of peace and freedom once more.

Nous nous souviendrons d'eux à jamais (Lest we forget, we shall remember them)!

(Photo Credit:  https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/paris-terror-attacks-world-landmarks-6830872)

PS: Things aren't always as they seem. Jumping to conclusions can be a dangerous thing.   For Pilots, low flying in the vicinity of power lines can be deadly. 

What about the Pilot in the above photo I captured while visiting Pictou in August?   As you see below, you can't believe everything you see, read or are told; especially,  in this age of computer manipulation and Photoshop!