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Few of us committed to a positive future wanted a military response to terrorism. But good things may be coming from the US bombing of Afghanistan. Women may have rights who have lived without them in horrid conditions under five years of Taliban rule and even before, under the Alliance. People who were starving to death before 9/11 may have food for themselves and their children more quickly than they might have had without the outside military intervention.

The terrorist attacks on American soil were abominable. But good things may be rising from the ashes. Americans are awakening from their narcissistic frenzy of years past to consider what is truly valuable in their lives. Families have reconciled who could never have dreamed of doing so before 9/11. A whole nation is struggling with redefining itself, its purpose, its mission, its responsibility. All of this would have been a long time coming without such a wake-up call.

Now it is up to each of us to ensure that the work continues--that the birthing of this new culture is not aborted by the impulse to return to the safe and the familiar. For instance, the pressure that people throughout the world have put on the US and the UN (much of it coming from the Internet) to recognize the needs of Afghani women and starving families must continue. Without such pressure there is no guarantee that their needs will be met.

There are those in our government who would brand as traitorous such introspection as this. We must not let them. Let us stand together without ourselves casting judgement, understanding the fear that grips the souls of those who do such things.

There are forces in this country that would think only in terms of the oil that we can carry across Afghanistan, if we win. The pipeline may help bring recovery to Afghanistan, but let us not stop pressuring for alternatives for Afghani economic recovery and alternatives to our dependency on oil.

Likewise, there are those who would have us plunder our Alaskan wilderness for oil if they could convince the American people that it is in the national interest. But, the American people have not been duped. They did take a stand and, so far, all efforts to open more land in Alaska for oil dredging have failed.

We must continue to make our voices heard.
It takes time to educate oneself. It takes time to educate a nation and a world. Let us continue to work towards an awakened humanity, but let us remember as we do so, to look as with one eye, knowing the sacredness of all creation, even the sacredness of those who would do us harm.

In the eyes of the divine, the pain and suffering of any people are the pain and suffering of us all. We are the midwives of the future. We cannot for a minute stop caring or stop acting.
Rebecca Browning
For Soul Journey 2000
303-444-9537 1
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