I do not know how to bring people together, but after looking at the pictures of the Libyans protesting FOR Ambassador Stevens and the other Americans and Libyans that fell, I had a thought. An Ambassador (Stevens), Vile Rat (Sean Smith), two ex-marines (Glen Dougherty and Tyrone Woods) and rumors of several other Libyans that were protecting them (sorry I haven't been able to find names), all of them fell to a frenzy of zealot madness. I have also seen what a low percentage of the citizens of all the currentaly rioting countries have actually agreed and engaged.
I had a thought. A concept if you will, naïve as all hell, but I thought maybe, if people with skills better than mine send a message back through the internet, it wouldn’t hurt. How many of you remember the outreach common citizens did between the USA and the USSR during the cold war? The school children writing to each other, the athletes, the ballet dancers, the musicians, farmers, doctors, engineers, scientists, skilled craftsmen and religious leaders all reached across from both sides. I have not seen that in regards to the middle-east. A part of me believes that those type of people can do better things then any armed group or government could ever dream of doing. I also believe the world wide net would make this easier.
A video with a cross section of an all countries rally, holding signs, with a good sound track (in my mind Rush’s Closer to the Heart) and holding signs in multiple languages that send a messages that the world was in it together, that most do not condone religious intolerance, remind people that three of the major religions that are currently at odds all worship the same God, and there are other religions that worship other Deities, and that most religions speak of tolerance and peace. Explain that as uncomfortable as many find it, restrictions of free speech, religion and social mores are not universal, that each society is different, but not necessarily at odds.
I still believe that I should be able to denounce whatever someone says, but, as part of that I should be willing to die for their right to say it. There are responsibilities that go with free speech, just because it is free does not mean it should not be denounced. This movie, the one that started it all, that this is not who we are, we are not zealots; we are not so much different then you.
That’s just my thoughts, naïve as ever. I have lived in many places including the Middle East. I find that most people want the same things. I could talk about basic needs, you know what I mean, a roof over your head and food on the table, or I could speak of the next level, the wants, I have not ever met a good parent or citizen on the three continents that I have lived on, that did not want better for their kids and their society. To me, that shows most people have much in common.
Just my thoughts…