Victory Over Violence Sept 13th 2001 Jeanne Lanigan
As long as
we bury our dead with honor
suffer our grief together
pray for the dead, dying and suffering
help those who have lost so much
help those who have witnessed, what no one ever should
celebrate those who have fought this battle in the buildings’ rubble, and the hospitals
honor our heroes, known and unknown, who have acted with courage
As long as we act out of love and unity
though our losses are large, our attackers will not have won
As long as we
sit in silence each day to remember and send our love to those who have suffered this
find even a small way to make a positive difference in our community
remember that in every country of this world, people want peace
If we seek a fitting justice, that harms no innocents and refuses revenge
though our losses are large, our attackers will not have won
But if we become the mirror of our attackers
If we
act against others because of their religion, birthplace or economic position
let our fear and grief overwhelm our truth
If we abandon our hopes for a world of peace
then our attackers will have won
Yet if we take this as an opportunity to prove the depth of our truths
If we can
reach out our hands in peace to those around the world who suffer as we have
know all the people of the world as our family
see their suffering with our minds eye
feel their pain with our heart’s compassion
accept their love as they send it our way
act to better the human condition
If we can know that in our dark side, we are capable of acting as our attackers did
for it is only in this knowing that we can discover our true enemy and conquer our fears
if we can
see ourselves as belonging to a family that values all peoples and their basic rights
hold a vision of a world united in one community, despite their differences
and seek justice within that vision
If we can
see our enemies as our family, who have lost their souls to the darkness
reach out with understanding and compassion to even those, who took joy at our suffering
Then we will have won
we will have won far more than we might imagine
for we will have won the war
for the Human Spirit,
for freedom for all
and the world peace we all wish to share.
The choice is ours,
the time is now
a true Victory over Violence is within our reach.
Jeanne Lanigan
