Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 1:01am
A shining example of hope
Column: All Paths
Last week in my column I discussed the honor and resilience that the Virginia Tech community showed in the midst of tragedy. I talked about how inspired I was about students helping each other during and after the shootings. I was even more inspired that the overwhelming majority of the students said they would return to Tech to continue their education. That honor and resilience were even more apparent and inspiring when close to 85 percent of the students and just about all the faculty returned to the campus yesterday to begin studying, working, rebuilding hope and healing. I don't think this would have happened if they had been influenced by many of the media reports on this tragic event.
The videos and letters from Cho Seung-hui were read or played over and over again. You have to ask why? I was happy to see that some questions were raised about how the media handled this story. This form of reporting only creates more fear and anxiety in a post-9/11 world already wrought with fear and anxiety. Now if some individuals have their way, we will be living in a post-9/11 post-Virginia Tech world. So the awesome and inspiring sight of the Virginia Tech community returning to study and work is an example for us to learn to not give in to the voices of fear and live our lives with courage and dignity in the midst of tragedy.
This past Sunday, I spoke at a service at the Unity Life Center (ULC) in Chantilly, one of the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., where Cho Seung-hui and many of his victims were from. ULC is a very warm community with a strong spiritual base. So it was no surprise when Annie Tomastik, a high school senior and an officer in Youth of Unity, read a very moving prayer that she had written during the service for the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings.
You should know that Annie has been accepted to Virginia Tech, and she told me that she sees nothing but hope and promise for that school, and that she more than likely will go there this fall. Annie will only bring more hope, resilience and courage to that school. She is a powerful young lady. I am sure her mother, Nina, the church's musical director, and the lessons she has learned at ULC had a lot to do with this. But it was clear to me from her words that this is a young woman with a deep individual sense of spirituality and courage.
It is the Annie Tomastiks of this world and the students and faculty that returned to Virginia Tech yesterday that make this world a wonderful place and keep it going. It is so easy to say yes to fear and alter our lives and perhaps our destiny on this planet by giving into those who keep fear flaming high on the front burners of our conscious. We have to continue to question our leaders and the media when they use fear and even hate to manipulate our thoughts and actions and how we choose to live our lives. Finally, I would like to end this week's column with the prayer Annie wrote and read during my visit to the Unity Life Center.
"So much is told to teenagers about our power and persuasion. In times where tragedy strikes such as today, we can use that power for extreme good. Last Monday someone struck out from a place of fear and darkness and committed an act so atrocious, it is unfathomable. And the only thing for the people of this world to do is respond with unfathomable love and support. Let's use the power we have at our disposal to come together to support the young people and their families whose lives were ripped apart on this tragic day. At times such as this in America, we often have 'moments of silence' in honor of the people who have been hurt. I say let's have a DAY of PRAYER instead. Today, proudly wear maroon and orange in remembrance of the victims of this tragedy. Spend the day in prayer for the families of the victims of the tragedy at Virginia Tech and the people of the world who come from such a dark place where such acts are committed. Make sure to remember to tell those you love that you love them. And take a day to be thankful to be alive and for all the blessings you have. Show your love and support for those involved and affected by this tragedy and let's come together in prayer for Virginia Tech, America and all of humanity. We may be far away and we may just be kids, but if we all come together in prayer and support and love, we can change the world. Don't let this day or this act be forgotten, but rather take this unfathomable fear and anger and hate and return with an even greater degree of love and support.
"Remember:
there is no such thing as hate,
only the absence of love.
there is no such thing as darkness,
only the absence of light.
there is no such thing as cold,
only the absence of heat.
there is no such thing as evil,
only the absence of good.
So let's fill the world with love, light, warmth and GOOD.
we have the power
we have the influence.
prayers and blessings to you all
Annie Tomastik, Chantilly, Va.
Don't forget to pass on the word to your friends.
Let's use our influence for something positive."
— — —
Rev. Jay Speights, with an MA in public policy, is an interfaith minister and main U.N. representative for the New Seminary in New York. You can learn more about his work at the United Nations at the New Seminary website. His email address is {email jayspeights@newseminary.org}jayspeights@newseminary.org{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Jay Speights.
The videos and letters from Cho Seung-hui were read or played over and over again. You have to ask why? I was happy to see that some questions were raised about how the media handled this story. This form of reporting only creates more fear and anxiety in a post-9/11 world already wrought with fear and anxiety. Now if some individuals have their way, we will be living in a post-9/11 post-Virginia Tech world. So the awesome and inspiring sight of the Virginia Tech community returning to study and work is an example for us to learn to not give in to the voices of fear and live our lives with courage and dignity in the midst of tragedy.
This past Sunday, I spoke at a service at the Unity Life Center (ULC) in Chantilly, one of the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., where Cho Seung-hui and many of his victims were from. ULC is a very warm community with a strong spiritual base. So it was no surprise when Annie Tomastik, a high school senior and an officer in Youth of Unity, read a very moving prayer that she had written during the service for the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings.
You should know that Annie has been accepted to Virginia Tech, and she told me that she sees nothing but hope and promise for that school, and that she more than likely will go there this fall. Annie will only bring more hope, resilience and courage to that school. She is a powerful young lady. I am sure her mother, Nina, the church's musical director, and the lessons she has learned at ULC had a lot to do with this. But it was clear to me from her words that this is a young woman with a deep individual sense of spirituality and courage.
It is the Annie Tomastiks of this world and the students and faculty that returned to Virginia Tech yesterday that make this world a wonderful place and keep it going. It is so easy to say yes to fear and alter our lives and perhaps our destiny on this planet by giving into those who keep fear flaming high on the front burners of our conscious. We have to continue to question our leaders and the media when they use fear and even hate to manipulate our thoughts and actions and how we choose to live our lives. Finally, I would like to end this week's column with the prayer Annie wrote and read during my visit to the Unity Life Center.
"So much is told to teenagers about our power and persuasion. In times where tragedy strikes such as today, we can use that power for extreme good. Last Monday someone struck out from a place of fear and darkness and committed an act so atrocious, it is unfathomable. And the only thing for the people of this world to do is respond with unfathomable love and support. Let's use the power we have at our disposal to come together to support the young people and their families whose lives were ripped apart on this tragic day. At times such as this in America, we often have 'moments of silence' in honor of the people who have been hurt. I say let's have a DAY of PRAYER instead. Today, proudly wear maroon and orange in remembrance of the victims of this tragedy. Spend the day in prayer for the families of the victims of the tragedy at Virginia Tech and the people of the world who come from such a dark place where such acts are committed. Make sure to remember to tell those you love that you love them. And take a day to be thankful to be alive and for all the blessings you have. Show your love and support for those involved and affected by this tragedy and let's come together in prayer for Virginia Tech, America and all of humanity. We may be far away and we may just be kids, but if we all come together in prayer and support and love, we can change the world. Don't let this day or this act be forgotten, but rather take this unfathomable fear and anger and hate and return with an even greater degree of love and support.
"Remember:
there is no such thing as hate,
only the absence of love.
there is no such thing as darkness,
only the absence of light.
there is no such thing as cold,
only the absence of heat.
there is no such thing as evil,
only the absence of good.
So let's fill the world with love, light, warmth and GOOD.
we have the power
we have the influence.
prayers and blessings to you all
Annie Tomastik, Chantilly, Va.
Don't forget to pass on the word to your friends.
Let's use our influence for something positive."
— — —
Rev. Jay Speights, with an MA in public policy, is an interfaith minister and main U.N. representative for the New Seminary in New York. You can learn more about his work at the United Nations at the New Seminary website. His email address is {email jayspeights@newseminary.org}jayspeights@newseminary.org{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Jay Speights.