Even more responses...

When I first read Aine's message I felt an absolute chill - I knew that this was the birth of piece that would circle the globe. Somehow you and Aine have tapped into the universal wisdom, higher mind, whatever you call it. "Spirit" was talking and you were listening.

Sharon Quarrington, Toronto, Canada

 

A friend emailed me the letter that you sent to Scott Kalechstein and his subsequent post on the internet of the 3 letters that he received that meant the most to him.

Your letter hit a place in my body and soul that immediately filled me with so much hope at the possibility of what would happen if the U.S. built a beautiful mosque in Kabul. It is by far, the best suggestion that I have heard in the past few days, and one that will have some immediate and powerful results, I AM SURE.

I emailed my friend to thank her for sending me your letter, and she said that she had just had a discussion with her neighbor about your letter, and she put out the suggestion that it should be sent to the President for consideration.

Clarice Herata, California, USA

All I can say right now Chris is thank you. I have to run right now. But your words, your sentiments, and the response they have gotten fill me with reassurance and hope and faith. I have lots I want to share with you -- I have been feeling anxious, although I pray for peace and do have hope and faith, and it is my son who brings me joy and hope. You are right, our kids are going to save the world, and that feels so amazing. I also forwarded your letter to a few people -- including my best friend in Washington, DC who is right at the sight, and who knew all of the flight attendants on the flights (she represents the international flight attendants union's work safety and health rights). She has forwarded it to many people as well! So thank you and thank Aine for her heart, for her wisdom.

    Kamala Todd, Vancouver, Canada

Please figure out a way to get "The Answer" to the decision makers in USA and all cooperating countries!!!! You can't imagine the impact Aine's idea, eloquently elaborated on by you, has had on bringing hope to us in these troubled times! This is exactly the "thinking out of the box" that we need!

Carol, Chapel Hill, USA

Thanks for sharing this piece, which hopefully gave thinking people another perspective, as well as food for thought.

Two points I think you might have failed to address:

"If you feed a monster, he won't want to eat us."

1. Your analogy uses the term "monster," which, by most definitions, is not human, nor can be attributed human logic, values, etc. The closest definition to "human" I found was by Webster, "a MORALLY deformed person," Any argument which presupposes that human logic, values, examples, or morality upon a "monster" is fundamentally flawed.

2. Assuming, in arguendo, that logic and rational thinking could be attributed to Aine's "monster," feeding him will only appease him if he is hungry and seeking food, which is a biological necessity to all living creatures, and, even then, only until the monster becomes hungry again.

What if the "monster" is not seeking something as simple as food, but his goal is your total destruction for purposes which are fundamental to the monster's nature, though inconceivable to you? If that is true, "feeding" the monster will not stop the monster from "eating you."

By definition, you cannot impose your morality, your beliefs, or your humanity upon a monster. Giving a monster food will not transform a monster into another being. At best, you would only temporarily relieve the monster's hunger. Aine is probably too young to understand this. I truly wish that our problems were simplistic enough to be solved by the logic of a 4-year-old.

Another definition of "monster" is "an abnormal or malformed animal."

A monster is not a stray dog. A monster is a rabid dog. Feeding a rabid dog is useless, and will not make the dog Aine's pet.

Food for thought.

I understand and appreciate all that you say, and believe that your essay will cause many to place these unfortunate events in a rationale context.

My point was that there are real monsters. There were Bin Ladens thousands of years before the creation of the US, and what might be perceived as a predominance of western culture.

I would also the reject the premise that poverty creates such monsters, or that eradication of poverty would eradicate the Bin Ladens of the world, or those who would follow them. As said by one wiser than I, there will always poor.

Can and should affluent culture use its resources to the elimination of poverty? Absolutely. But my point is that, while you can "feed" someone with bread, it is unforgivable arrogance to think that you can force your values, beliefs, or morality down there throats. Islamic fundamentalism predates Christianity. Those who hate the West do not do so because we have not given them bread, but because of their perception of those very values which we would attempt to impose.

You didn't recognize the fact that the West does feed those in need throughout the world. The US government is the largest provider of humanitarian aide to Afghanistan, providing nearly $200 million per year. American citizens are the largest source of private economic aide to impoverished persons throughout the world. Could we provide more to Afghanistan and its people? Certainly. Would that eliminate those fundamentalists, who are, by nature, opposed to the West? I don't think so. You cannot "buy" religious and ethnic values, and you reap resentment and hatred when you try to do so.

It's ironic that you envisioned giving a Mosque to Afghanistan, and asked "what would their reaction be?" Several years ago, the international community built a soccer stadium in Afghanistan, as a humanitarian gesture, and to give its people a place of recreation in a community. Today it is used exclusively for public executions.

Margot Rouge, USA

 

Aine's answer is appropriate if one lives on Sesame Street, and one is being threatened by the Cookie Monster. Give the Monster a cookie. And a glass of milk.

I appreciate your application of reason to the end of the elimination of violence from a a very volatile future.

The problem lies in the nature of the monster, a nature to which "reason" is incomprehensible, and is a weakness in those upon whom the monster would prey. An astute observer of this principal once observed:

"The sleep of reason breeds monsters..." --- Goya

    Rip Dillanger, USA

There should be a provision in the Criminal Code for such awesome naiivete in any person over the age of twenty - punishable by a six month tour of duty on Planet Reality. It's not the 'sentiment' that I object to so much but the smug assumption of the moral highground - the underlying assumption that those who differ in their opinion of how to face violence are barbarians.

I'm sure that the mothers and fathers who walked their children into Auschwitz were full of homilies about what a bad childhood Adolf had and what a miserable state Germany was in after WWI - ergo - given his just grievances and sensitive psychological state we really should give Mr. Hitler a chance and not fight back.

Fortunately, in that case, many truly courageous people sacrificed much (holding hands and singing songs only works on university campuses where the privileged can indulge their sense of superiority and self-image as 'peacemakers' while as usual the rest of the world takes the responsibility and does the terrible, and very dirty work).

I, for one, would be writing this missive in German if the Neville Chamberlains of this world had prevailed.

    Rose Flem-Ath, Vancouver, Canada

What if feeding them makes them more hungry? More hungry than the food you have, but you are now part of their food chain. Walk into a forest where bears are with food, or chumming the water with sharks before swimming, might not be a good idea.

Or what if the monsters aren't alone. What if there are other monsters. What if the two monsters (or maybe more than two) really detest each other, so much so that they will take out their anger on you! In fact the act of your feeding them is sufficient to incite them against you.

What if feeding the monsters makes your people so angry that they start violently reacting.

Complex, many faceted problems may not have simple elegant solutions. I'm wondering if part of the reason we're targeted is that we are too many times too involved in other's affairs. Maybe the monsters just want to be alone. Maybe there's only a few bad monsters, but they like eating people regardless.

    Steve Stasik

Knowing what I do about child development and young children's awareness of their own physical needs to be cared for, so that they can feel safe and secure and act in reasonable ways toward others -- it makes PERFECT sense to me what your daughter said. So, I don't have any problem believing what she said -- it was about monsters, and that's all. It's people's interpretations of what such a simple philosophy means DEEPLY at a political level of world economics/politics that I find fascinating. And that has nothing to do with your daughter -- but your daughter's "Body-Being" understanding of the world (as it would be explained in one framework which I know about) was right on the mark. And if our political leaders could just reason at that level -- wow! However, just what your daughter said is enough to get people thinking ...even if they don't read your whole essay (at least for the kinds of holistic educators to whom I write). For others, though, reading your whole essay would probably be educative.

    Robin Ann Martin, California, USA

This is a nice thought, but typical of the liberal doctrine that is destroying our country today. It poisons our children's minds and does not reflect reality; it is what the "Clintonizing" of the USA has caused us to believe. Are you forgetting that we already are the largest giver of humanitarian aid in the world? Are we so foolish that we forget that EVERY country in the world that needs something comes to us? Where is your evidence that being nice to people who want to destroy us will cause them to stop? What, exactly, did all those people who died, do to deserve that fate? Did they discriminate; did they murder; rob; commit adultery? You all need to read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Then you will understand what has made this country great, and will continue to make it great in spite of your thinking. It is time to stand up to those who will harm us, and declare ALL terrorist activity as acts of treason against HUMANITY, and therefore UNCONSCIONABLE!! Once again, it will be up to us, the USA, alone, to ensure that JUSTICE is served!! Do you all understand what that means? We are the greatest country in the world because of our PURSUIT of justice and FREEDOM!! And I wish to be free of those who would destroy us or our way of life. It will eventually be us or them; whom do you choose? Signed, 

A Freedom Fighter --

    Matt Bogart, USA

YES YES YES..... i was having dinner with some friends on Sunday night. We were trying to figure out SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO DO. I came up with the idea of having the soldiers march into the country with food and medicine...the planes drop cashes of food and medicine instead of bombs. It would completely surprise everyone and definately change the expectations and perceptions of the world.

Thank you Chris and your daughter Aine for this wonderful idea...How can we help manifest this?

    Kirsten Humphries, Victoria, Canada

Read your discussion regarding "feed them" good advise...but build a mosque and feed their superstition and their need to force their religion on all others? no Religion is the source of all of this...fanatics on all sides telling everyone that theirs is the only God and that God speaks to them...Feed them with schools and teach them to think and to worship at the alter of REASON...I'm all for a non-war attitude but, please keep religion out of it...thanks, 

Leonard A. Zivitz MD, USA

your "feed them and build a mosque" essay is a right on item!

those eighty thousand displaced Palestinians are never going home, and the Arab countries around Israel want those third generation refugees to remain unsettled in order to bolster their anti israel position.

BUT if Bush didn't spend the ten billion on Star Wars, he could buy every displaced Palestinian family a small bungalow with a lawn and swings in the back yard, and have nearly nine billion left over. there is bound to be a lot of empty space in that godforsaken desert that could be used for land development. We would solve oodles of problems; jobs in the middle east, The Canadian softwood lumber issue, etc.

And a Palestinian with a home of his own is gonna settle down and stop calling his benefactor "the great satan"

    Dave Tompsett, Canada

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil...If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink...Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:17-21

So many thanks to you and Aine for the Parable of the Monsters. The perpetrators of the attack on the United States are expecting us to respond to this act of violence with more violence. How will they react if, instead, we reply with an act of grace?

Someone once said, "I know there are many good people in the world; I just wish they had louder voices." Thanks to you and your daughter for raising your voices. My thoughts and prayers are with you, and all the other good people searching for ways to answer destruction with creation.

With prayers for peace,

Charles Kowalski, Japan

 

You don't know me, but I got your e-mail forwarded to me by my uncle. It was forwarded to him by a Jim Miller. I just wanted to say how refreshing it was to hear such a response after all the bitterness and hatred, and vengance I have heard lately. When I try to say such things to any American, I really get dumped on. Except perhaps by some of the Christian women I have spoken to. Your daughter is wise beyond her years. "Out of the mouths of babes", as it says in the Bible. Or " A Child will lead them". Just to let you know (and I am sure you already do), there are Christian organizations that have been trying to do just as you have recommended for many years now. It is slow going, because not enough people believe in that cause, I guess, or just don't care to dig deep enough into their own pockets to help. We support one, that we know is very good and honest with the funds they receive. It is called World Vision. Of course, they do not build mosques, as they are Christian, and try to spread the Word of God. They do give schooling and implements to work with, and they show them how to take care of them selves both food wise, and they show the mothers about nutrition and cleanliness, health matters, etc. They also show them how to dig wells and get clean water and plant crops or raise animals for food, according to the region they live in. So it is going on in the world, but I like your idea about Pres. Bush doing the same . I don't know as if that would completely eradicate terrorism....I think for those like bin Laden and Saddam Hussein power is more of an issue, than anything else. I think that may anger them all the more. Just a thought...but I love your idea! Sincerely, 

Cathy Freebairn, USA

 

Thank you so much for relaying what your daughter so eloquently spoke. It was forward to me via Alaska Wellness's Dawn Burke. I will pass it on to many.

Lesley Nelson, Anchorage, USA

What absolute drivel. You sound like a flower child from the 60’s. If I hold a gun to your head are you just going to thank me in advance for shooting you? Violence needs to be discouraged. You’re a very sick person.

[Jim later added...]

Not that I agree with your simplistic views but I do see that point that after World War 2 and after the Korean War we went in and built up the Japanese, Koreans, Germany, France, England and most of Europe.

After Afghanistan fought off the Russians we abandoned the country other than humanitarian aid. We also pulled out of Iraq and left our friends to fend for themselves after the Gulf War. This would seem to suggest that after we win a war, our interests are best served by staying there to help out and see that our long term interests are served.

Jim Lewis, Portland, USA

 

The young daughter sounds very sweet and idealistic, as a young child should, much like my own four year old daughter. However, hopefully as we grow, we become wiser, and more aware of the sometimes sad REALITIES of this world that we live in. It is not a perfect world. The unfortunate reality is that evil DOES exist in this world. Feed the monster so that it won't eat us?! A monster is a monster. Giving food to a monster doesn't turn him into a lamb. He is still a monster. Feeding him only makes him bigger and meaner. He is after all, a monster. While taking food from you, his is very likely to chew off your hand as well. Because, he is a monster. To use an insidious example, if a child molester is caught, do you give him more children? As a parent, it is my duty to protect my children from anyone who might hurt them, especially when someone has already attacked my child. I would be insanely foolish and irresponsible to leave a proven child molester in the presence of my children.

Here is a history lesson for the sweet, naive, and uninformed souls who think that "feeding the monster" is the answer in ending terrorism;

During the 1980's, Iran and Iraq were at constant war with each other. At the time, America opposed Iran, so we aided, funded, and armed Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein. Later of course, Saddam turned on us, after we fed him. It is also thought that Saddam currently allies himself, and conspires with Osama Bin Laden.

Before the Soviet Union fell, they were in a multi-year war with Afghanistan. Since America opposed the spread of communism, we aided, funded, armed, and yes, fed, the Afghans, so that they could fight the communists. Even after the Soviet Union fell, we continued, until this day, to fund Afghanistan to the tune of $100 million per year. Did feeding this monster help? Of course not. They have aided and harbored Osama Bin Laden, have refused to turn him over to us, and have threatened us with holy war.

In recent years, America has bent over backwards to try to accommodate the demands of Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat. We have tried to convince Israel to give in to Arafat's demands as well. Israel has offered more than they safely should have to Arafat, yet he continues to walk away from bargaining sessions. Why? Because he doesn't want peace with Israel, he wants to exterminate Israel. Any agreement which allows Israel to exist, will be opposed by the Palestinians. Since the Oslo peace accord between Israel and Arafat in the mid 1990's, 21,000 Jews have been slaughtered by Arab terrorists. This accord hasn't been too peaceful for Israel has it. Yassir Arafat runs terrorist training schools for Palestinian children as young as three years old, attendance is mandatory. The children are brainwashed and taught to hate and kill all Jews and Americans. On September 11, 2001, the day of the attack on the World Trade Center, the official Palestinian newspaper, which is controlled and printed by Yassir Arafat, praised suicide bombing as "a noble act". Arafat does all of this, while acting for the cameras, and giving blood to the Red Cross "for the victims". All the while, his Palestinian people are dancing in the streets with joy, after hearing about the attacks on America.

Just feed the monster huh? Feeding monsters has never helped and never will. Monsters remain monsters. If America retaliates against terrorism, we are not being merely vengeful or being war mongers. It is our duty and obligation to protect ourselves, our citizens, and our children, from the monsters that do exist in an imperfect world. To do any less would be naive, foolish, and irresponsible.

Byron Tzangas Columbus, USA

 

In your post to B.D. NOW you express my sentiments entirely. But then I / we don't have any financial interests in the armaments industry. Our battle is to change the minds of our polititians. I believe education and diet may lie at the back of this. I'm sure the internet and e-mail corespondence helps us all to unify our thinking. We then need to translate that into change in the ballot box. Those living in New York now have a better idea what it must have been like living in the Balkans, Irak, Iran and Vietnam when the U.S.A. and allies were dishing out poisinous sprays and bombs.

Peter Bacchus, New Zealand

 

how do you feed people who are only satiated by the deaths of others as the terrorists are - there is no NO NO NO known justifications for the actions of these monsters. if there is any one in this world who believes that these sub-humans were justified in their actions than i can only explain this as a phenomenon of hostage mentality where the hostage aims to understand its captors because they are under the threat of death all the time.

do we want to bend to the demands of people who deny our simple right to live without fear - do we say - you are willing to kill indiscriminately therefore we'll give you money. ask your selves the question - what do these men want ??????????? and i say men with good reason for if you looked into the treatment of the females in their community you would be outraged and demand that the UN make a stand against their human rights abuses - but here you say feed them.

those who fund the terrorists are wealthy men - money made with the aid the western democracy we enjoy , the same democracy that they wish to destroy. the autocratic regimes that theses terrorists advocate have left their people in a dire position of hunger and poverty. why might you ask do they not take that money and invest it into their society , for schools for medical supplies, for housing. why do they instead sink all the funds they can get into massive plots of destruction. the answer is - they are driven by pure hate, nothing more nothing less.

if you think you are immune from their hate - g-d help us , but i'm sure numerous people who died in NY would have shared your views and were not spared. terrorists don't care who they kill. in the bombing of the US embassy a few years back - the majority of those who died were muslims -once again i repeat they don't care who they kill. they are driven by a hatred far greater than anyone of us will ever know. succumb to that hatred and you will be guilty of justifying the deaths of close to 7,000 people in the US. not only that, you will be saying to your children that even the security if your own family is not worth fighting for. root out the evil so that we can give back dignity to those nations who despite their hardships do not succumb to terrorism as a solution. and if you do not, than you unleash the idea that terrorism has a right to exist.

julia kabov, Australia

Chris Corrigan

RR #1 E-3, Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada V0N 1G0

Phone/Fax (604) 947-9236   

chris@chriscorrigan.com