nonviolence

Reflections on recent events

by mgopin on October 21, 2015 · 0 comments

Originally posted here on Oct. 19, 2015.

I am starting to see very clearly that there are those people who have the moral and emotional intelligence to understand two sides of a conflict, two enemies at once, and there are those who need to demonize someone in every situation. There are those who can empathize with their own community and with another, and there are those who at every turn look to demonize one group and whitewash their own. These are two camps of humanity, one with an evolved mind, and one with a primitive mind. Educational levels and graduate degrees having nothing to do with these two camps.

I am horrified by the mob mentality, I am saddened by many people I have helped and defended, not from my own community, who the first chance they get, join virtual lynch mobs.

The fact is that it is easy to …

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Judgment Day

by mgopin on September 30, 2014 · 9 comments

daily life
Every day is judgment day
When you are mad with vision,
When the world as it is,
And the world as it should be,
Are enemies to the core.
Every day is judgment day,
When you see what you could be,
And peer at what you are.
Every day is judgment day,
When every day,
Every damn day,
Someone else, someone new,
Looks at you for help,
For your power,
Your power,
Which is an illusion.

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Event Appearance at Johns Hopkins University

by mgopin on September 16, 2014 · 3 comments

This morning, I was privileged to talk at an great event of SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, as one of the speakers.
Please check out the website and the video of this whole event.

“IS THE WORLD FALLING APART?”
September 16, 2014
Conflict Prevention & Resolution Forum
at Kennedy Auditorium, SAIS- Johns Hopkins University

 
Screen shot 2014-09-16 at 4.00.49 PM

 …

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Of Gods, Tribes, and Battles

by mgopin on September 16, 2014 · 6 comments

GOD
If you cannot find God,
Find the persecuted,
Then you are home.

TRIBE
Tribalism is an infectious disease
Human rights is the antidote
But force feeding can kill the patient

BATTLES
Some battles that you want to win,
Will defeat you if you win.
Some battles if you lose,
Then you will win.
Think.
Blessed be reason.

hug

 

(Photo: A Different Angle)

 …

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Violence: The Turning

by mgopin on August 28, 2014 · 4 comments

disarmament
It is a law:
Violence begets nonviolence,
Like a tulip in winter,
In all places,
In all cultures.
But only those
With eyes wide open
Can see it,
In the middle of
Winter storms.

The most important turning point
for any civilization passing from darkness into light
is every moment
that a weapon passes
from someone who has no self control
and no compassion
to someone who does.…

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Very important Muslim statement on IS.

Sunni and Shiite Muslim leaders in the United Kingdom have come together to denounce the Islamic militant group ISIS in a video posted by a group called Imams Online, reports the BBC.

A statement on the Imams Online website says, “Senior British imams have come together to emphasize the importance of unity in the UK and to decree ISIS as an illegitimate, vicious group who do not represent Islam in any way.”

Click here to read the whole article.

 …

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Shades of Heaven / Birth

by mgopin on August 14, 2014 · 4 comments

peace-syria

SHADES OF HEAVEN

When a theologian of another religion says what you were thinking the moment before it comes out of your mouth #syria, with the Bosnian hero Father Ivo.

BIRTH

The warrior is born at 15000 feet,
With the press of a thumb.
The anti-warrior is born underneath cement,
With the press of a shovel,
Eyeing,
The first,
Grey,
Thumb.

 

(Photo: Now Media)…

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BANKRUPTCY

The moment the country says, they made me do it, you know you are in a morally bankrupt situation.
The moment the country says the other side is worse, start sheltering the women and children.

REFLECTIONS ON THE EXERCISE OF POWER IN A TIME OF WAR

Hold on to both justice and love at the same time. Few people can.
Inspired by Cyrus of Persia: Loving your enemy is not necessarily for ethical reasons. It is often the best strategy.

love and justice

 

(Photo: Rubicon.dk)…

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War Repetition Compulsion

by mgopin on August 6, 2014 · 0 comments

clouds_light_dark1
Beware of dark texts, images and thoughts,
That repeat themselves involuntarily
in your mind.
They are the bars,
On the windows,
Of the prison,
Of your mind.
New thoughts, texts and images,
Are your tunnels,
To freedom,
Your escape
To peace.

 

(Photo source: Engines of Our Ingenuity)…

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FB Friending Analysis

by mgopin on August 5, 2014 · 8 comments

 

facebook-friends-icon

Interesting, in the hotness of the Gaza war attention (while thousands suffer and die anonymously nearby in Syria and Iraq, for example), it is interesting to watch the evolution of thinking day to day under a microscope. I find myself to be a magnet for positive rational thinking these days in terms of FB friending patterns, not that I necessarily deserve that. I am impressed at the number of people seeking to friend me in recent days who trust neither Hamas nor Israel to protect the people of Palestine or build a better future, and putting lots of thought on which parties could do this. This is a good direction of thought. One theme emerging is that very few people are buying the idea that Israel has at this point a decent plan for the future, but also, one man, one vote one time of political Islam and military …

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