Guilt

Guilt is the means by which we punish ourselves.
Others cannot inflict guilt upon us.
They are skilled at inspiring us to do the job for them.
I truly believe there are guilt mongers so cruel as to never allow guilt's fire to extinguish and those who would grieve if they realized the pain inflicted.
I am amazed at how many of us punish ourselves cruelly.
Would I be wise to establish a statute of limitations?
Pervasive guilt blocks a serene heart and mind.
Can I forgive myself and feel guilt at the same time?

Silence

Silence can be a weapon or shield.
Silence can inflict pain or peace.
The mind speaks what the mouth does not.
Hatred and anger are not just words, but actions and lack of actions.
Do I not wield malice if you fear me and I do nothing?
Love and kindness are not just words, but actions and lack of actions.
Am I not kind if I refuse to retaliate?
A peaceful mind bears no weapon, can express no hate.
This is why forgiveness is more powerful for the forgiver than the forgiven.

I refuse to be terrorized.

Perhaps the first time I ever realized that I felt so alone in the way I think was during and after 9/11. I observed some people immediately suspicious of anyone Muslim, bearded, non-christian or in any way ethnic.

Suddenly we had a government agency called "Homeland Security" and a color system to tell us "threat levels".

I watched as the President and Congress began scrambling for a country to be attacked in revenge.

I began hearing racist commentary I was unaccustomed to.

Laws were being implemented or deregulated to add "security" to our Nation such as phone tapping, library book tracing, dramatic increases in border and airline searches and restrictions, frantic media interviews, etc., etc., etc...

While I realize we all needed to be more vigilant to the realization there are bad people in the world who will go to any length to harm others - I have steadfastly refused to be afraid. To do otherwise, in my opinion, is to surrender to the Osama bin Ladens of the world. They're terrorists. If I'm terrorized - they win. If we run around altering our liberties and freedoms the terrorists need not attack us again since we continue to run around in fear and they have altered our lives by altering our minds and hearts.

I've been called naive and stupid for this view. The only person I can find who might agree with me died in 1790 - "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin