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Mr. Jerry Falwell and Mr. Pat Robertson used the American National Prayer Assembly, as a sadly inappropriate platform to psychologically and spiritually attack an already tormented, vulnerable and potentially volatile American and Worldwide people. The congregation sat awaiting words of insight and obviously awaiting guidance in their need to contemplate God's higher purpose. The media cameras focused on the one particular person, President Bush, who could benefit, perhaps the most, from a spiritual teacher's wisdom, needing it to lead an entire nation of people in their pain. With a potentially unlimited amount of personal benefits because of the attendance of the President, the International Press and millions of viewers globally, Mr. Falwell chose this historical moment, to emotionally beat a congregation to a pulp. Humiliating his country, and crudely corrupting the very reason Jesus Christ and other Holy People walked the Earth. September 15, 2001, these Christian religious extremists blamed non-christians, secular institutions, women, homosexuals, civil-rights groups, and abortionists for the attack on the American people four days earlier by other religious extremists (terrorists). Please be aware that the vast majority of Christian and Muslim communities have not sanctioned and are not responsible for the words or actions of these two extremist groups. These two groups of extremists have presented themselves as having accepted the responsibility of being representatives of sacred words. I am so saddened that they would respond to any situation in the manners they personally chose to. Each of the world's Holy Scriptures can offer words of wisdom in this situation, however I only know a few. I present the words of Jesus Christ and Buddha: "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do"; and, "Follow Him when He comes." I believe that all religions are valuable, that faith is a triumph, a victory won and a true testament to civilization. I believe that all humans should practice patience, celebration of differences (not just toleration), their inner truth, and sharing of themSelves. That in so doing we can create world unity, so that we can succeed in remaining civilized and in maintaining honor and peace. I believe we must not succumb to ignorance. I do unerringly believe in humanity. I implore you to dig deep within yourselves, to remember that your neighbor is as you - afraid, tired, defensive, protective of their babies and loved ones, yes--biased at times and confused. And that is normal, expected, it is human. We learn from these emotions. The world has changed because of a few people who are ill. Do not let their illness infect you with hatred and fear. Rest and remember your forebear's pain in the many wars that were begun in error. Change is not a terrible thing it is only different, it is an opportunity for gracious productive and heartening renewal, it can be joyful, it can be rewarding, it can be a source of solace and unending strength - even when it is brought on by terrible events. We must change, change is evolution, change is inevitable. Now that one more time of change is upon us, accept that we have no choice, and know that we must never revert to historical ignorance. We are the new, the knowledgeable, and we must forge ahead; we owe it to our beloved, to ourselves and to our planet. We are not of one country, one religion, one color, one sex, one right - we are of many - we are human. We are flesh and we are not perfect and our bodies are fragile - this is the way of it, this human state we live in. We are vulnerable as individuals, but as a group we are utterly invincible. Celebrate your life, celebrate your neighbor's race, creed, culture, age and gender - it is your neighbor that reaches a hand when you are down. The cut of a human's clothing is immaterial, irrelevant - it is a strong heart and arm that counts. You know inside that it is one's moral character that makes that arm strong and lets that heart pump the desire to be strong to the arm! And that my friend is what will pull you up when you are down. Please, give your neighbor the incentive to want to - talk to your neighbors.
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