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January 01, 2006

Let there be peace on Earth

Let there be peace on Earth
And let it begin with me

This is the time of year when many of us set goals for the coming year. These "resolutions" are often of a personal nature lending themselves to some sort of self improvement.

Not that I don't have room for personal improvement and growth..but given the destruction, violence and war that permeated the year 2005 it seems like a less self-centered resolution is in order: peace.

"World peace" is a trite answer that stereotyped Miss America contestants are said to give as the answer to the interview questions asked by the host during the pageant. Its an ongoing joke. But after having witnessed the way we humans tore at each other this past year, perhaps that answer isn't so trite after all.

The single greatest reason for these acts of violence toward our fellow man? Fear. Fear of terrorism. Fear of political change. Fear of religious change. Fear of the unknown. This year more than others in my memory, human fears were not only indulged they were encouraged.

Be afraid. Let us save you. Give us the power to keep you safe from your fears. Give yourself over to us completely so we can guard you from those who would make your fears come true.

My resolution this year is to find ways to give people courage. To end their fears. To demonstrate ways we can stand together.

Hopefully through our little corner of the blogopshere we'll create ripples of courage, strength and most importantly: peace.

To do this I will work to highlight stories of bravery and tenacity in the face fear. I will try to out stories where fearmongering works to undermine our American values and ideals. I'm hopeful that readers of Preemptive Karma will feel free to email me the stories that they find that meet this criteria (click on the "email Carla" link at the upper left hand corner of PK).

In 2006...let there be peace on Earth. And let it begin with us.

Posted by Carla at January 1, 2006 10:27 AM