Welcome to BASE21

All violence is injustice.

Responding to violence with violence is injustice, not only to the other
person but also to oneself. Responding to violence with violence resolves
nothing; it only escalates violence, anger and hatred. It is only with
compassion that we can embrace and disintegrate violence. This is true in
relationships between individuals as well as in relationships between
nations. Many people in America consider Jesus Christ as their Lord, their
spiritual ancestor and their teacher. We should heed His teachings especially
during critical times like this. Jesus never encourages us to respond to acts
of violence with violence. His teaching is, instead, to use compassion to
deal with violence. The teachings of Judaism go very much in the same
direction. Spiritual leaders of this country are invited to raise their
voices, to bring about the awareness of this teaching to the American nation
and people. What needs to be done right now is to recognize the suffering, to
embrace it and to understand it. We need calmness and lucidity so that we can
listen deeply to and understand our own suffering, the suffering of the
nation and the suffering of others. By understanding the nature and the
causes of the suffering, we will then know the right path to follow.

The violence and hatred we presently face has been created by
misunderstanding, injustice, discrimination and despair. We are all
co-responsible for the making of violence and despair in the world by our way
of living, of consuming and of handling the problems of the world.
Understanding why this violence has been created, we will then know what to
do and what not to do in order to decrease the level of violence in ourselves
and in the world, to create and foster understanding, reconciliation and
forgiveness. I have the conviction that America possesses enough wisdom and
courage to perform an act of forgiveness and compassion, and I know that such
an act can bring great relief to America and to the world right away.

Thich Nhat Hanh
18 September, 2001

The Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh will be fasting from the 21st-30th September as
a way of prayer in action. He invites all of his friends and disciples to
join him in this prayer and meditation, wherever you may be and for however
long you wish, in order to embrace all those who have died and all who are
suffering from the recent tragedy. Those who plan to participate in this act
of peace may like to e-mail us at mfmaster@vermontel.net, and to write a letter
to the President and to their Congresspeople to inform them of your
intentions.

Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 90083
Gainesville, FL 32607
(352) 337-9274
http://www.space4peace.org
globalnet@mindspring.com