This is a difficult subject to sift through especially through this medium, but for those of you who watched the news today it is a necessary one. For those who haven't heard the news from Morocco today check the link below...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/03/12/morocco.blast.reut/index.html
... I want to give you the same word that our in country director gave to us. If you are worried about acts of terrorism being committed against us humble Peace Corps volunteers, don't be! Terrorism by its very nature is an hyper-public act and, as we are going to be stationed out in the middle of nowhere there is very little risk that we will be caught in any cross-fire. I have encountered no hatred, no resentment, and certainly no danger as of yet and although I am not naive in the thinking that the entire country is representative of the few people I have come across thus far, I do know that those who would do harm to a stranger out of sheer frustration at a country's foreign policies are few and far between. The vast majority of the people I have encountered have been horrified that something like this would happen in their country. We are safe, the Peace Corps makes sure of that, and in the unlikely event that we are put in danger they will not hesitate to remove us from that danger.
On a personal note, even if every person I had come across thus far had screamed from the top of their lungs at me and threatened me with bodily harm simply for the eagle on my passport, I would still be here because it is my job superficially as a Peace Corps volunteer and far more profoundly as a "minster of reconciliation" to stand in the face of blind hatred, not with a gun or with hatred, but with love... even though it may cost me greatly. In times such as these, we cannot afford to hide in our corners and objectify each other. We need these interactions to remind us that we are all brothers and sisters who share the same fate on this earth. This is the only way to fight terrorism...
... and it takes great sacrifice.
To creating a world better than the one left us,
Samuel
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3 comments:
Beautiful, Samuel. I'm glad people like you are representing our country right now. :) God bless and stay safe. :)
I couldn't be any prouder of you than I am right now. "Minister of reconciliation" is the job of all of us, and you've chosen it as your life's vocation. God help all of us to deny ourselves and engage in God's mission to reconcile the whole world, not just America, to Himself!
As Ministers of reconciliation - Is hatred more contagious than love? A question that drove Edward Hicks, Quaker artist, to paint more than 100 versions of the "Peaceable Kingdom". What are we willing to do 100X for reconciliation and peace?
http://www2.gol.com/users/quakers/Hicks_Peaceable_Kingdom.htm
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