Message in a Bottle
by
Jeanette J Jennis
Levittown PA
In the aftermath Of September 11, 2001
Written as a World Citizen
If I could send a "message in a bottle" to the world, here is what it would be:
Whether you choose to believe it or not, we are ONE world, we are interconnected;
and not only as the human species but also with all other species making
their home here, as well. We share this Earth. It is past time to share
it at a level higher than the one that invites and even encourages hatred,
intolerance, injustice, and infliction of physical, mental and emotional
pain. We can declare, without a doubt, that the path we have followed,
century after century, appears to be a never-ending circle linked to mindless,
robotic behavior systems that have brought us the “rewards” of uncontrolled
rage, unimaginable fear, ruthless revenge, rampant hostility, and a rock-bottom
sense of emptiness and despair. To continue these worldwide patterns is beyond
belief, beyond ignorance, beyond sanity.
Now is our time to awaken from the self-created nightmare of our so-called
co-existence. Einstein said he believed we were part of a "friendly
universe". How friendly is war, with its full complements of bombs,
guns, nerve gas, and terrorism? And do we overtly or covertly tolerate
corruption, treachery, ruthlessness and greed? Are the dark bloodstains
of generations of persecution, humiliation, cruelty and cowardice still oozing?
Are any of us starving, sick, homeless, preyed upon, abused and simply left
broken and abandoned? Does this proud planet fly all the flags of all
the countries in tribute to world harmony, cooperation and peace? Do
our religious leaders preach and practice unity of spiritual principles and
the brotherhood of "oneness", or are differences and divisions constantly
reinforced through pseudo-religious one-up-man-ship and the still prevalent
ideology keeping men "in check" through fear and banishment, and discouraged
from thinking on their own?
Who would agree that our world leaders personify unimpeachable integrity,
are visionaries and valorous men, all? And can one imagine successfully
questioning the wisdom, altruism, and universality of the merchant princes
of our world?
And then there’s "us" the majority, the common man. And in expressing
this "commonality" that we so obviously share, do we love, honor and protect
that one, true thing that unites us as nothing else can? Many may call
it our "humanity", but I choose to call it our "spirituality". That
one spark of Divinity that makes each wave one with the ocean, makes the
seeming "each one of us" truly One Self. If in this very moment of
the ever-present now, everyone held fast to that One Holy Self in total acceptance
and inviolability, then how could eyes blaze with hate, voices scream with
rage, arms raise to hurt? How could the mind use the body to battle,
betray or belittle? In just one true instant of recognition of who
we really are, we would be free to do only one thing…love one another.
Haven’t we tried all the other alternatives in countless millenniums?
Humanity is at the crossroads. Choose. It has been said, "When the
Light is turned on, where does the darkness go?"