On:

In the aftermath of the attack on America many are reflecting on the meaning of life, the meaning of our way of life, and whether we are as culpable in the act as those who terrorizes us. There are many opinions. And, except for those Palestinians in Lebanon who seem to have rejoiced over our tragedy, most are shocked and dismayed at the brazen act of these forces of terrorism. Pardon me if I quote from an ancient source of wisdom, the Dhammapada wherein Buddha is quoted as saying, “For hate is never conquered by hate. Hate is conquered by love. This is an eternal law. Many do not realize that we must all come to an end here; but those who do realize this, end their quarrels at once.” And he who came in peace said that he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.read more

On:

In the aftermath of the attack on America many are reflecting on the meaning of life, the meaning of our way of life, and whether we are as culpable in the act as those who terrorize us. There are many opinions. And, except for those Palestinians in Lebanon who seem to have rejoiced over our tragedy, most are shocked and dismayed at the brazen act of these forces of terrorism.

Pardon me if I quote from an ancient source of wisdom, the Dhamapada wherein Buddha is quoted as saying, “For hate is never conquered by hate. Hate is conquered by love. This is an eternal law. Many do not realize that we must all come to an end here; but those who do realize this, end their quarrels at once.”
read more

On:

September 11, 2001 was the worst day of all of our lives. In that awful sense, it brought us together in a new way. The images that haunt me–the doomed woman stretched to her limit, leaning out of a window above the flames; the dark shadow that seems to cover the second plane as it races across the skyline filled with people just like me; the dust- caked firemen, their eyes dead with fatigue, flashing with determination; and the cellphones, those voices calling to us from the very edge of mystery and death. All of those things, and so much more.

So much more.
read more

On:

When the World Trade Center in New York City was reduced to rubble by terrorists on Tuesday, September 11, it hit me especially hard, because I lived in New York for 30 years and it will always be my hometown. I wasn’t fond of the Twin Towers–I remember watching them being built and thinking how hideous they were.

But the Trade Center was a symbol, the same way the Alamo in San Antonio, where I now live, is a symbol. The Alamo was once reduced to rubble, prompting the cry “Remember the Alamo!,” which inspired Texans to fight the Mexicans again and win.
read more