Yesterday was the anniversary of the massacre in Montreal, at Ecole Polytechnique, where many women were killed. I did not miss the anniversary. I was very much aware of the date. It has meaning to me. I didn’t know anyone directly involved in the massacre. Symbolically, though, it represented how very far we have to go before all human life is honoured and allowed freedom to become who we are.
One year, on this date, I was in Vancouver. They were staging a display in front of the public library. I don’t remember the details, but I do remember there was something wrong with dredging up so much sadness again. In the back of my mind, I wondered if there was some better way for me to honour the women whose lives were lost.
A couple of years later now, I have a stronger sense of what that looks like for me. I was aware of the date yesterday, yet chose to not reactivate the vibration of “violence against women” or “victim” or “sadness”. When the thought of the event arose, I chose to focus on peace. Harmony, Love. Standing FOR something does much more for the world than standing up against something not wanted. I stand for Peace, Harmony and Love by being peaceful, harmonious and loving. This, to me, is active participation in the world. Being IN the world, not just of it. Being in the world you see how things are and you consciously choose how to be. Being of the world, you are at the mercy of the status quo. How others react, you react. You might believe you’re making a difference by protesting against something – a wrong done, or how you don’t want the world to be, but what you’re really doing is putting more focus on, giving more energy to, that which is NOT wanted.
Thoughts become things.
What if this thing we don’t want is against what we believe to be an equitable society? What if “the government” (or some other group of humans that we keep separate from ourselves) does something or is about to do something that we really don’t want to have happen? By all means, let yourself and others be heard. Freedom of expression and the right to gather are freedoms not all humans are blessed with. Express and be heard though, for what you stand FOR. And believe.
Envision a world where the thing you stand FOR is a reality. Stand FOR a peaceful existence for all sentient beings. Stand FOR equitable global economics. Stand FOR respect and reverence for our old growth forests. Stand FOR ways to develop the resources of the Earth in a sustainable, non-damaging manner. Stand FOR healthy, flourishing wild fish stocks. Stand FOR a world that loves.
In what you stand for, be conscious of your own way of being, that it is congruent with your beliefs and vision for the world. If you stand for peace, are you being congruent in your thoughts and actions with that vision and being peaceful in your day to day life?
