Does anyone remember that Germany won the World cup only last week? Our joy and excitement about the games have been swept aside by the terrible events of this week- the conflict in the Middle-east and the Malaysia Airlines plane shot down over Ukraine.
These flip flops were reduced from £12 to £3 after England crashed out of the football games. The high hopes of England fans were dashed and people were angry. In Argentina, fans looted and smashed parts of Buenos Aires, when it lost to Germany in the finals. Why does losing a game have to end in violence and anger?
I have been thinking a lot about violence, loss and desperation as I watch the news- changing from euphoria to sadness. More so, as I saw the souvenir t-shirt of a nameless Dutch football fan, lying in a field in Ukraine. More so, as I watched smoke rising from Gaza and each side defiantly saying that they will not stop. More so, as I watched a documentary, ‘A world not ours’ which is filmed in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon and follows the World cup seasons from the year 2000 to 2010.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2233762/
Is this world really not ours? Why are we destroying it? Why are we destroying nature and human being alike with impunity and inhumanity? Then it struck me that it doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to let the negativity get us down. From today, I promise to be happy and to give joy to all who I meet.
Let us reclaim our world again- with love, humanity and respect. This world is ours. Hatred does not help. As Nichiren, the Buddhist Japanese monk who lived in turbulent times in the 13th century said, “I, Nichiren, am hated by the people of Japan. I grant that the government has acted quite without reason, but even before I encountered my difficulties, I foresaw that troubles of this kind would occur, and I resolved that, whatever might happen to me in the future, I must not bear any hatred toward others. This determination has perhaps acted as a prayer, for I have been able to come safely through any number of trials.”
A Value Creating Life 