Essay
By Patricia
Lomden
The following
is an excerpt from an essay by Patricia Lomden, a 16-year-old
SGI-USA member from Philadelphia.
|
|
As recent events
have shown, it's easier to declare war than it is to say
"good morning" with a smile to someone we don't
like. Why not make that little effort? Is it really so hard
now that we realize life is a bit more precious than we
thought?
When I heard people talking of America retaliating, I made a
commitment that we will retaliate. We will have a major
retaliation where others will jump for joy that innocent
people did not die for nothing. This retaliation will put some
substance behind all the American flags I have been seeing.
This retaliation will not be one of guns and bombs and death.
It will be one of life. It will be one of peace and dialogue.
Think of it: a retaliation of peace!
We are living out a drama. But the thing is, we don't know we
hold the pen. No one above or below us has any power over our
destiny. Nothing outside myself tells me I cannot change the
nation with the growth of my own life.
They say the world will never be the same after September 11.
That's right! A door has opened for things to get better. It
might not seem like things are changing right away, but I can
feel myself moving forward. When I know that I am improving my
own life, I know, somehow, that the entire world is moving
forward. After that day, my will and courage have become
stronger. My hope has grown. My compassion for others is
flourishing. My dreams are soaring higher than any skyscraper
there ever was.
|
