The National Day of Mourning - Choosing for a Non-violence attitude.

Today is the National Day of Mourning in the Netherlands. A day for all to stand still and think about all the victims of the plane crash last Thursday, 17^th of July. A day to think about how fragile and valuable life is, and to give support to those who are now mourning their lost loved ones.

But then I watch the television, and I feel sort of uncomfortable…It’s alright to proclaim today as a National Day of Mourning, but…to me it seems as if many people, who have no relation whatsoever with the victims, let themselves be led by the enormous sadness, grief and suffering 200 Dutch families are passing through. It’s like a collective form of mass hysteria (that’s how I would call, it, although I know it’s not right). The media is constantly only broadcasting news about the plane crash, about how horrible it is, how sad, about basically everything that has anything to do with it. It makes me feel sick, because that’s just the media exploiting a tragic event. It makes me feel uncomfortable, because so many people go along with something that is indeed tragic, but - in short- none of their business.

Because all those Dutch people, oh, how they mourn collectively. How they sympathize. And that’s it. Then life goes on, as many say.

But I don’t see it that way. Instead of collective mourning, people should think deeper, profounder (however comforting this might be for some, because I know it also has its good sides). They should think about why this happened. Don’t understand me wrongly: not how. Why did this happen?.

It is sad, no, infinitely more than sad, that we live in a world where violence is still one of humans most common attitudes. Already in the 70’s, in the time of the hippies, people dreamt of a better world, worldwide peace, stopping discrimination, equal rights, etc. But nooo. We’re still going the way we were, which is, in short, letting ourselves be guided by our ego and our primitive impulses, fighting with other humans for power, territory, riches…

Don’t we ever learn from the past? Obviously not. We aren’t capable of long term thinking, and even less capable of thinking in any other time that besides our own lifespan.  The consequence of this is that we forget the horrors of violence, war, and whatever kind of human attitude that only exists to satisfy ones ego. This means that conflicts and wars will continue emerging around the world.

I’m writing this based on the events of the airplane crash MH-17 in Ukraine. A plane with almost 300 passengers on board, probably shot down by Russian separatists in Ukraine because they thought it was a Ukrainian airplane. An act of pure violence, that will affect the lives of 300 families forever, families who never had anything to do with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Because, listen well: Wars and conflicts rarely cause victims who are directly implicated, but rather almost always affect people who have nothing to do with it. This way, the wave of violence expands, because they will always want an eye for an eye (and thus, the world goes blind).

What conflict between people can be so extreme that people end up killing others? And…have they never stopped to think in the immense amount of suffering they cause because they are persuading their ego?

It’s unbelievable. But we never learn from the past. People always focus on the differences between other humans. Differences in opinion, beliefs, skin color, culture…But, aren’t there more things that unite us then things that separate us? Aren’t we all human? Aren’t we all capable of loving, compassion, empathy, understanding when we are born? Why focus so much on what separates us as humans? Instead we should accept those differences and rejoice, because those differences makes each of us unique, precious, valuable!

Be different, and make sure you do learn from the errors others commit. Make sure that you will end up seeing violence as the most harming and useless attitude a human is capable of. Violence is useless, it only causes suffering. A war never has winners, only losers. Everyone loses once they are implicated in acts of violence. Do you want to be part of the violent attitude? Or will you choose for no violence, tolerance, compassion, respect? It’s your decision, but you must know that, although you’re only one person, your actions will affect the world. You, and only you, are capable of deciding what footprint to leave behind on this world.

For me it’s clear. I say NO to violence, at all the possible levels (yes, think about that, it’s a lot harder then you’d think at first notice). I say NO to suffering. And I know that, with this life-attitude, I will make a difference in the world, no matter how little. 

Day of Tolerance/Dia de la Tolerancia

In our globalizing world, tolerance is more essential than ever before.  It is being tested, and in the face of economic and social pressures, some seek to exploit fears and highlight differences to create hatred. Thus, dialogue must prevail over violence, understanding over indifference, knowledge of others over ignorance and prejudice. Sadly, tolerance often remains misunderstood. 

Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. It is fostered by knowledge, openness, communication, and freedom of thought, conscience and belief. Tolerance is harmony in difference. Tolerance, the virtue that makes peace possible, contributes to the replacement of the culture of war by a culture of peace. Above all, tolerance is an act — the act of reaching out to others and seeing differences not as barriers, but as invitations for dialogue and understanding. No society can hope to flourish if it does not promote this essential virtue.  Tolerance is an essential condition for peace, democracy and sustainable development

Tolerance should not be mistaken for concession or condescension.  Genuine tolerance is about openness, curiosity and communication. It goes hand in hand with knowledge and understanding.  

Nor should tolerance be confused with indifference.  Being tolerant does not mean being passive in the face of racism, xenophobia and exclusion, or silent when minorities, refugees and other vulnerable groups face abuse.  Tolerance is an injunction to all of us to stand up and speak out in defense of all who are deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms.

Tolerance cannot be taken for granted.  It has to be taught, nurtured and communicated.  Education, inside and outside the classroom, is essential for strengthening tolerance and for combating hatred and discrimination, by revealing similarities between people and spreading a healthy respect for differences.

In these times, we must invent new ways to strengthen the binds that bring us together. We must reach out to young women and men, as they are those whom carry the greatest burden of change.

More than ever, the work for tolerance requires a renewed engagement from every one of us.  On this International Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to tolerance, dialogue and solidarity, among ourselves, in our families and our communities, as well as in our relations with other nations and peoples of the world.

Thank you

(Based on United Nations Message for International Day for Tolerance)

"Se el cambio que tu deseas ver en este mundo"

En nuestro mundo globalizado, la tolerancia es más esencial que nunca antes en la historia. Se está poniendo a prueba, y en vista de las presiones económicas y sociales, algunos tratan de explotar los temores y diferencias que resaltan para crear odio. Por lo tanto, el diálogo debe prevalecer sobre la violencia, la comprensión sobre la indiferencia, el conocimiento de los demás sobre la ignorancia y los prejuicios. Lamentablemente, la tolerancia a menudo permanece incomprendido.

La tolerancia es el respeto, la aceptación y el aprecio de la rica diversidad de las culturas de nuestro mundo, de nuestras formas de expresión y maneras de ser humanos. La fomentan el conocimiento, la transparencia, la comunicación y la libertad de pensamiento, de conciencia y de creencias. La tolerancia es la armonía en la diferencia. La tolerancia, la virtud que hace posible la paz, contribuye a sustituir la cultura de guerra por la cultura de la paz. Por encima de todo, la tolerancia es un acto - el acto de tender la mano a los demás y ver las diferencias, no como barreras, sino como invitaciones para el diálogo y el entendimiento. Ninguna sociedad puede esperar prosperar si no promueve esta virtud esencial. La tolerancia es una condición esencial para el desarrollo de la paz, la democracia y el desarrollo sostenible

La tolerancia no debe confundirse con la concesión o condescendencia. Tampoco hay que confundir tolerancia con indiferencia. Ser tolerante no significa ser pasivo en la cara del racismo, la xenofobia y la exclusión, o permanecer en silencio cuando las minorías, los refugiados y otros grupos vulnerables se enfrentan a abusos. La tolerancia es un requerimiento para todos nosotros para levantarse y hablar en defensa de todos los que están privados de sus derechos y libertades fundamentales.

La tolerancia no puede darse por sentado. Tiene que ser enseñado, nutrido y comunicado. La educación, dentro y fuera del aula, es esencial para el fortalecimiento de la tolerancia y la lucha contra el odio y la discriminación, al revelar similitudes entre las personas y difunde un sano respeto por las diferencias.

En estos tiempos, tenemos que inventar nuevas maneras de fortalecer los lazos que nos unen. Tenemos que ayudar a las mujeres y hombres jóvenes, ya que son los que llevan la gran carga del cambio.

Más que nunca, el trabajo de la tolerancia exige un compromiso renovado por parte de cada uno de nosotros. En este Día Internacional, reafirmemos nuestro compromiso con la tolerancia, el diálogo y la solidaridad, entre nosotros, en nuestras familias y en nuestras comunidades, así como en nuestras relaciones con otras naciones y pueblos del mundo.

Gracias

(Basado en el Mensaje de las Naciones Unidas para el Día Internacional de la Tolerancia)

Thoughts about war/ pensamientos sobre guerra

I, among others in this world, am a pacifist. I believe that war will never be beneficial, nor will anyone come out of war totally unharmed.

Of course, I have never been in war, and I’m very grateful about that. So maybe I shouldn’t give an opinion about something that I have not experienced myself.

But nevertheless I do want to write about it. And to be honest I must say; there have been wars for a just cause. Like the latest; the Arab spring, in countries where there are dictators and the people are demanding justice, democracy and peace. I can understand the reason why a war starts. But can I justify it? Being the person I am; no. I believe that violence never results in anything good. I believe that, despite the need sometimes in this world to wage war, it should be avoided my all means.

Unfortunately, the way people think and do in this world often leads to war. Compassion, understanding, respect and love are far to be found in many hearts of the humans. Rather we let ourselves be led by greed, anger, revenge and hate. This really saddens me. But besides that totally not important fact, we must all consider the fact that war and violence always brings with it more sadness and suffering.

Just imagine, try to please, a world where everyone would be compassionate, respectful and loving. Where there would be no war and no violence. Now, compare it to the real world, where there is still war and suffering everywhere.  Which world would you prefer to live in? Would you really still like to live in the world we have nowadays, or would you chose for a better world for all? Because, just so you know, you, and me, and everyone else can make a difference. Together we could actually make a better world. This is not a mere dream or illusion; it’s really possible. I don’t know what you are thinking, but my thoughts are like “what are we still waiting for!!!”

Now, just to give you more stuff to think about, three quotes from his Holiness the Dalai Lama

It is vital that young people, the guardians of our future, develop a strong awareness of the futility of violence and war. They can learn from the examples of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., that non-violence is the best way to ensure peace in the long term. Because the twentieth century was a century of violence, let us make the twenty-first a century of dialogue.

Peace has a great deal to do with warm-heartedness and respect for the lives of others, avoiding doing them harm and regarding their lives as being as precious as our own. If, on that basis, we can also be of help to others, so much the better

Nonviolence means dialogue; it means using language to communicate. And dialogue means compromise, listening to others’ views, and respecting others’ rights, in a spirit of reconciliation. Nobody will be 100 percent a winner, and nobody will be 100 percent a loser. That is the practical way. In fact, that is the only way.

En la practica de la tolerancia, tu enemigo sera tu mejor  maestro.     

Yo, entre otros en este mundo, soy una pacifista. Creo que la guerra nunca será beneficiosa, ni que nadie sale de la guerra totalmente ileso.

Por supuesto, nunca he estado en la guerra, y yo estoy muy agradecido por eso. Así que tal vez no debería dar una opinión sobre algo que yo no he experimentado.

Pero sin embargo, quiero escribir sobre esto. Y para ser honesto, debo decir, que si que ha habido guerras por una causa justa. Al igual que una de las últimas; la primavera árabe, en los países donde hay dictaduras y las personas están exigiendo justicia, democracia y paz. Puedo entender la razón por la cual se inicia una guerra. Pero puedo justificarlo? Siendo la persona quien soy, no. Creo que la violencia nunca llega a algo bueno. Creo que, a pesar de la necesidad a veces en este mundo para hacer la guerra, se debe evitar hacer guerra a todo coste.

Por desgracia, la forma de pensar y hacer en este mundo que a menudo conduce a la guerra. La compasión, la comprensión, el respeto y el amor a veces no se encuentran en el corazón de muchos de los seres humanos. Más bien nos dejamos llevar por la codicia, la ira, la venganza y el odio. Esto realmente me entristece. Pero además de ese hecho tan poco importante, todos debemos considerar el hecho de que la guerra y la violencia siempre trae consigo más tristeza y sufrimiento.

Imagínate, trátalo por favor,  a un mundo donde todos serían compasivos, respetuosos y con amor en sus corazones. Donde no habría guerra ni violencia. Ahora bien, compáralo con el mundo real, donde todavía hay guerra y sufrimiento en todas partes. ¿En qué mundo prefieres vivir? ¿De verdad aún te gustaría vivir en el mundo que tenemos hoy en día, o si erigirías para un mundo mejor para todos? Porque, para que lo sepas, tú y yo, y todos los demás podemos hacer la diferencia. Juntos realmente podemos hacer un mundo mejor. Esto no es un mero sueño o una ilusión, sino que es posible. No sé lo que estarás pensando, pero mis pensamientos son "A qué estamos esperando!?!"

Ahora, para darte mas cosas sobre la cual pensar, aquí unos frases de su Santidad el Dalai Lama

Es de vital importancia que los jóvenes, quien son los guardianes de nuestro futuro, desarrollan una fuerte conciencia de la inutilidad de la violencia y la guerra. Ellos pueden aprender de los ejemplos de Mahatma Gandhi y Martin Luther King, Jr., que la no violencia es la mejor manera de asegurar la paz en el largo plazo. Debido a que el siglo XX fue un siglo de violencia, hagamos el siglo XXI sea un siglo de diálogo.

La paz tiene mucho que ver con la actitud indulgente y el respeto a las vidas de los demás, evitando que les hiciese daño y considerando sus vidas como algo tan valioso como el nuestro. Si, sobre esa base, también puede ser de ayuda a los demás, tanto mejor.

La no violencia significa diálogo, significa usar el lenguaje para comunicarse. Y el diálogo significa compromiso, escuchando al punto de vista de los demás, y respetando los derechos de otros, en un espíritu de reconciliación. Nadie será 100 por ciento a un ganador, y nadie va a ser del 100 por ciento un perdedor. Esa es la manera práctica. De hecho, esa es la única manera.