Enough.

There has been enough violence and hatred in this world. Enough is enough.

Today marks 35 years since the shooting and killing of John Lennon. In the United States of America 1,057,000 have been killed by guns since John Lennon was shot dead on December 8, 1980.

Shootings.

• San Bernardino, California, December 2, 2015: 14 dead; 17 injured
• Colorado Springs, November 29, 2015: 3 dead; 9 injured
• Roseburg, Oregon, October 1, 2015: 9 dead; 9 injured
• Chattanooga, July 16, 2015: 5 dead; 3 wounded
• Charleston, South Carolina, June 18, 2015: 9 dead
• Washington, D.C., September 16, 2013: 12 killed; 3 wounded
• Newton, Connecticut, December 14, 2012 : 27 killed
• Oak Creek, August 5, 2012: 6 killed; 3 injured
• Fort Hood, Texas, November 5, 2009: 13 killed; 32 injured
• And so many more…

  

War.

• Invasion of Grenada…
• United States invasion of Panama…
• Iraq…
• Afghanistan…
• Liberia…
• War on Terror…
• Al-Qaeda…
• Somalia…
• ISIS…

When does it stop?!

So much hate, single-mindedness, death, war games and disharmony among HUMANS. We are all the same. We are all humans. Must we really share our differences with violence?

Most recently in San Bernardino, California, where I spent a good part of my childhood, there was a mass shooting leaving 14 people dead. 14 people who have candles lit for them because they will not be going home to their families. Why? Because of idealistic, single-minded, intolerant of other ideas bullshit.

I love to travel, I love to explore other cultures, ideas, and ways of life. LIFE. I want to experience other ways of life because it is unique to my own, interesting. We can no longer be intolerant to fellow humans. When we speak of “home grown terrorists,” I always think of anyone who was ever a terrorist. This plantet is our home.

While in Skopje, Macedonia I visited the replica of Mother Teresa’s childhood home. I like to think back to the photos I saw in there, a picture of her and Princess Diana; just sweet kindhearted smiles among a world of hate. It is only through ourselves that we can change this world for better or worse.

Peace Rally.

Speaking of wise Mother Teresa, she once said, “I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.”

When can we rally for peace around the world? It does not have to be, no need to be a huge gathering of people with picket signs, no. It starts in our mind, in our heart. It starts with good judgment and tolerance. It starts, with each one of us saying “I will accept differences. I accept my human brothers and sisters as they are and I will love them unconditionally whether I know them or not.” This type of thinking will spread; one to another to another until one day, we have reached everyone – and evil behavior dissolves. Rally for peace in your mind and remind some around you to do the same. Saying that peace is a utopia is like saying life without debt is impossible. No, you just have to go about it right, manage your money, or in this case, you thoughts correctly. Eradicate this deep-seeded anger with practice.

“I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.”

This will start with ME, and one day there will be no boarders or restrictions on travel – no world travel alerts and so forth.

Terrorism disgraces human existence. Killing disgraces human existence. Hatred disgraces human existence. Our minds are an amazing asset to our reality. It is only through a healthy mind that we can co-exist.

Together, we can make peace fly kilometers (klicks) around the world. It starts with me. It starts with you.

Summer of Peace Rally in Washington Park on July 27

Vets and peaceniks peace demonstration at Fort Wayne’s Courthouse Green on Veterans Day, November 11.

Myanmar Peace Rally September 22, 2012

Tim Minchin at The Reason Rally