|
|
1000 Points of Hope
an article by Joanne Tawfilis
Many American citizens, Austrians, tourists, visitors,
curiosity seekers, and supporters came by, came out, and simply came to
be with one another here in Vienna on the eve of the acceptance speech
by the Republican nomination for the 2004 US Presidential election, to
participate in a candlelight vigil.
Our five by twelve foot mural, entitled 1000 Points of Hope
was designed with over 1,000 doves to promote peace, unity and healing,
during one of the most dreadful times of the world’s history. The
craziness of war and violence seems to be engrained into societies all
over the world as reflected by this so-called war in Iraq, the
heightening and almost unnoticed genocide in Gaza, the ethnic cleansing
in the Sudan, the downing of two Russian airplanes, and the 1,000
children and parents taken hostage in Beslan.
I don’t know how to explain the feeling of what it was like
standing beneath the looming huge gothic spiral domes of the cathedral,
and to feel the exuberance of a young woman who was busying herself
with distributing and lighting candles in the dark of the night. It
seemed somewhat incongruous or odd to be near such an iconic symbol of
religion when in fact, religion seemed to be at the heart of many of
these conflicts. And then, as I looked up at the top of the spiral I
realized that it was not about religion after all. Like the doves on
the murals flying in one large circle of hope, I reminded myself it was
more about money and power.
Painting murals. Trying to create peace, unity and healing
through art, just doesn’t seem to be enough, but last night someone
said to me, “Just Do Something”. Let us hope that the answers we seek
are not forgotten or lost and that the 1003 doves we painted will live
in the hearts of the peace seekers and peace makers and our collective
efforts to “do something” will ensure that our children will see a
world that is different than the one we live in today.
|
|
 |
DISCUSSION
Question(s) related to this article:
Religion: a barrier or a way to peace?
What makes it one or the other?
As a reader, you are invited to join in the discussion of
this article based on any of the above question(s): just click on the
question, read the previous comments and add a new reply. You may also
enter a new discussion topic on this article - see bottom of this page.
Thematic forum(s) in which this article is being discussed:
RELIGION AND CULTURE OF PEACE
LATEST READER COMMENT:
I
have a question for the Agape Community poster, who related experiences
of rejecting white priveledge. I have certainly considered
rejecting priveledge, but I have a hard time understanding where to
draw the line. So much of my upbringing, who I am, what I have
and so on, are a construction of the many priveledges I have grown up
with. White, middle class, US citizen, female (can be considered
a priveledge in some senses, male priveledge in other senses), able,
assumed straight, etc. When I've looked deeply into the matter,
even my basic principles have basis in my class background, and I find
they are still important to me, nonetheless. Your story is
inspiring and I hope you will provide some insight into the matter.. . ...more.
|
|
