A Mother's Plea: Let's Stop the Hatred

Join the Discussion "I finally found a way to remember and to honor those who died on September 11th. Since I live in Canada, I couldn't really fly the American flag. Since my friends seemed not carring as much as I did, I couldn't do the vigil with anybody else except in the house." Dann     Related Resources • America Attacked • Twin Tower Memories • Parenting Tips    From Other Guides • America Under Attack • In the Wake of Tragedy • Terrorism and the Classroom    Elsewhere on the Web • CNN: Children Need Reassurance • Coming Together

This is a recent discussion forum post by Hanan, mother of five daughters, who resides in Cairo, Egypt.

"I have become increasingly dismayed by something I can see happening here. When all of this started, people cried, and tried to comfort each other. Everyone, all around the world was shocked and everyone united in their grief.

Slowly the mood is changing, now I see posts inferring this is something which affects Americans only (polls giving the option to say you did nothing/feel nothing because you live outside the States). People saying they don't care about any innocent people in other countries who may be hurt by this, because they displayed inappropriate behavior after the attack.

This attack was motivated by hate, driven by pain and oppression and a feeling of being ignored, and fueled by arrogance. The reason Palestinians danced in the streets was that they felt that finally someone else would feel their pain; they would no longer stand alone. The Israeli's did the same…they were happy that others would feel their fear of terrorist attacks, and unite in stamping them out, their reaction was more muted, but fundamentally similar. Neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis were happy about the deaths…they were anticipating an eventual result out of this that would help them; selfish, heartless but not wicked.

If we continue to ignore the fundamental causes for the hatred, it will not go away. Killing children will not diminish the hatred; it will increase it. Hatred is a part of everyday life where I live. Hatred started all of this. I find it sad that people are reacting to this in the same way, with hatred. You may call it anger, but to wish death to 8 year olds because they reflected their parents hatred…is to become one of them.

I think some people have learned the wrong lesson from this…they have learned to HATE…in which case this atrocious attack on ALL of humanity achieved its aim.

I am one hundred percent behind any drive to stamp out terrorism, but we need to address the causes for hatred at the same time. If we truly want to feel safe and secure again, regardless of where we are, it is up to US to teach our CHILDREN that HATE, in all its forms is WRONG."

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