Hatred Bounces
an article by Donna Henes, Urban Shaman

This spring I just returned from standing for an hour in the freezing rain with Women in Black for a silent peace vigil at Ground Zero. Fifty of us standing shoulder to shoulder, calm and still, eyes straight ahead, patient and passionate in our belief in bearing the presence of the possibility of peace.

I was haunted by the specter of that holy hole in the ground, the once upon a time site of nearly twenty Spring Equinox egg standing ceremonies that I have celebrated there. Those towers that had once ringed my public altar, now reduced to a forlorn mud pit, were still a backdrop for tourist souvenir snapshots as they always were. I can think of no better way to honor this sacred shrine and the spirit memories buried there, than by standing in a tribute of peace.

Most people hurried right by, curious, but not wanting to engage. A few flashed furtive, or occasionally flagrant, peace signs as they passed, smiling in silent support. Others were more outspoken — most of them quite odiously — proclaiming their support for this war. "Go to France," shouted someone from the back seat window of an extra long white stretch limousine." Well, I wish.

A trucker leaned out of his window to tell us to "Love it or leave it." And a bearded man who was walking by, commented, ostensibly to his friend, "You know, they are supporting Sadam Hussein." I hardly think so, honey. One young man spit at me — not on me, thank goodness. Now, I have been jailed several times, beaten up, tear gassed and shot at, all as a result of my long time pursuit of peace and civil rights, but I have never been spat at.

hatred bounces. -e. e. cummings

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DISCUSSION

Question(s) related to this article:

How should we respond to those who oppose our efforts for peace?


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MAKING AN EFFECTIVE PEACE MOVEMENT

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For a very interesting comment on this theme see the entry by Annie in the Pravda English Forum (Russia).

This report was posted on July 18, 2003. The moderator is Robin.

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