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<dd><font face="arial" size=2>July 8, 2005
<dd><b>If It's a Muslim Problem, It Needs a Muslim Solution</b>
<dd>By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
<dd>Yesterday's bombings in downtown London are profoundly disturbing. In
part, that is because a bombing in our mother country and closest ally,
England, is almost like a bombing in our own country.
</dl>I am now more acutely aware that Africa is the Mother Country
- in the sense of the human species - the mother of us all - and while
our MOTHER is suffering, we will all feel the pain....I hope that
we can move beyond selective 'tribalism' to include our connection with
all life on MOTHER EARTH.<br><br>
One of our Australian political leaders referred to the terrorists as
'sub-human filth' - this type of demonising and monster-making will
only add to the justification for the perpetuation of the cycles of
vengeance and violence. Until we truly see that each of us is connected
on this planet - it will be difficult to create the space for authentic
dialogue with those who are different. <br><br>
Gandhi said it well, in words that sounded like: <br>
Unless I recognise that the evil that I see in my enemy also exists
within me <br>
and that the good that I know is within me also exists in my enemy,
<br>
I have no way of sustaining a commitment to nonviolent
solutions.<br><br>
This is for me one of the most powerful reasons for continuing to open
space for dialogue - naming the capacity for evil and hate within myself
and recognising the humanity of others - regardless of the acts of
violence they feel compelled - or inspired - to perpetrate<br><br>
Peace to all <br>
Brendan<br><br>
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