human savagery

Congolese woman and child fleeing from destruction

i cannot stop thinking about one of the world's worst atrocities against women: rape in war.  any form of rape is horrible, but the women who bear the greatest scars seem to be those who were the victims of war's brutality.

Congolese soldier

the subject is more than i can bear to dwell on, yet it is such a horrific and prevalent worldwide reality of war that i find myself needing to acknowledge it -- to give it a voice rather than let it continue to persist in silence.

those who bear the unthinkable crime against their bodies are left without a voice, without visible battle wounds, without societal support, and without their dignity restored.  they bear scars that do not heal.



 

the world is suffering and sick with great spiritual diseases -- i know any change begins with me, with my spiritual strength, with my own pure and goodly deeds.  in order to banish the darkness of ignorance, brutality, violence and hatred, we must become (and remain!) beacons of light.  not just a flickering light but a bright beam of light -- full of purity, hope, and servitude.  it requires tireless exertions to raise children, especially boys, to know deeply within their souls that women and men are two wings of the bird of humanity.  the spiritual man will never resort to the degradation of women -- and he would view such horrific acts as degradating to the core of his own soul.  each passing day is either an opportunity to help the world of humanity or let it languish on its bed of sickness.  i'm clinging to the cord of faith through living a life of service to and love for humanity, one soul at a time.

"There is nothing so heart-breaking and terrible as an outburst of human savagery!

"I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content.

"Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.

"When soldiers of the world draw their swords to kill, soldiers of God clasp each other's hands! So may all the savagery of man disappear by the Mercy of God, working through the pure in heart and the sincere of soul. Do not think the peace of the world an ideal impossible to attain!

"Nothing is impossible to the Divine Benevolence of God."

(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 28)