United We Stand
In 2017, the UN General Assembly marked this day, August 21, as the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.An average of 21,000 people fall prey to such violence every year. Our world has sadly become infested with bigotry, intolerance and hostility towards those who look or believe differently. . Most of the victims are average innocent people – in the wrong place at the wrong time – with no connection to the terrorists who take from them their peace and far too frequently their lives.
While this day honors the victims, what we really need are solutions. We must put an end to this scourge once and for all. Terrorism feeds on hatred, which is not part of the human DNA. As expressed in “South Pacific’ – no human is born of hate and fear – these must be taught. If they are then fester – they become a metastasizing disease with violent repercussions – as we’ve encountered throughout the course of human history.
Whether victims are targeted by race, nationality, religion, or lifestyle choices – it is time for the world to come together against terroristic acts. As fellow citizens of the world, we have a moral responsibility to unite behind a common goal of ending intolerance on all levels.
In Homeland Rescued, the second novel in our Dreaming Dreams trilogy, Adam and Tariana find themselves in a land on the verge of war. They become victims of a terrorist attack – perpetrated by forces with whom they have no grievance. In order to stave off a bloody war, our heroes must navigate the complexities of biases and mistrusts built over a century. They guide three opposing forces to focus on common goals that unite them, rather than of differences that threaten their very survival.
We promote throughout our writings that ‘we are all different, but we are all the same’. Let’s pray that those disrupting peace throughout our planet today yield to “we the people” – the vast majority of who want peace and are ready to accept those who look different and/or have different beliefs. Let’s begin by making small differences in our own everyday lives – with love driving out hatred and mutual respect replacing intolerance. Let us not fall to apathy – but instead stand against those who promote evil, bigotry and bloodshed.
