Day of forgiveness

Quotes of the day:

• I don't believe in killing whatever the reason.
• If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set then there would be peace.
• God is a concept by which we measure our pain.
• You either get tired of fighting for peace, or you die.
• If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche left behind in the sixties - that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal.
• Life is what happens when we are busy making other plans.

John Lennon

From New York Times, November 26, 2006

FORGIVE US

December 8^th is near again. Every year, on this day, I hear from many people from all over the world who remember my husband, John Lennon, and his message of peace. They write to tell me they are thinking of John on this day and how he was shot and killed at the prime of his life, at age 40, when he had so much life ahead of him.

Thank you for your undying love for John and also for your concern for me on this tragic anniversary. This year, though, on December 8^th, while we remember John, I would also like us to focus on sending the following messages to the millions of people suffering around the world:

To the people who have lost loved ones without cause: forgive us for having been unable to stop the tragedy. We pray for the wounds to heal.

To the soldiers of all countries and of all centuries, who were maimed for life, or who lost their lives: forgive us for our misjudgments and what happened as a result of them.

To the civilians who were maimed, or killed, or who lost their family members: forgive us for having been unable to prevent it.

To the people who have been abused and tortured: forgive us for having allowed it to happen.

Know that your loss is our loss.

Know that the physical and mental abuse you have endured will have a lingering effect on our society, and the world.

Know that the burden is ours.

Let’s heal the wounds together.

As the widow of one who was killed by an act of violence, I don’t know if I am ready yet to forgive the one who pulled the trigger. I am sure all victims of violent crimes feel as I do. But healing is what is urgently needed now in the world.

Every year, let’s make December 8^th the day to ask forgiveness from those who suffered the insufferable.

Let’s wish strongly that one day we will be able to say that we healed ourselves, and by healing ourselves, we healed the world.

With deepest love,

Yoko Ono Lennon

New York City 2006

A year ago at Tamarika: Traveling Tam

Comments

[tamarika]

Dear Winston and Adriana,
Am grateful you stopped by to share this with me. Thank you.

[Adriana Bliss]

What beautiful words by Yoko Ono - thank you for bringing this here. The newspaper this morning, L.A. Times, touted Bush's continued belief in the Iraq war despite the findings of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. He talks in terms of "success"...there's a "slow pace of success." I feel so sad for our world.

[Winston]

Wonderful thoughts from both John and Yoko. Where have we gone wrong? We lost the feelings, the love, the tolerance, the peace. We knew those things in the 60s and 70s. Some of the very people who have led us down the road to hell were young and bright and aware in those days -- a part of our generation, and part of John Lennon's world of love and peace. Did they never believe? Or did they just turn bad, rotting from the inside out?

Thanks for posting this Tamar. We all need to sit still and reflect a bit...