Our
Guest Writer: Richard L. Provencher -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faith And Prayers -
Richard L. Provencher
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A spillage of media sadness through images and detailed stories of defects
in
human society hit all of us like a flood of tears. We are inundated with
explosions,
people hurrying in fear, faces often blood-splashed. And we can
imagine the
whine of ambulances in a-frenzy. These details threaten
to overcome our inner strengths, subdue our passion
for living, and the question
is- How to protect our loved ones and the
society in which we are so comfortable?
Will it require our high tech
capabilities, or Repressive monitoring of our
daily movements in society? In most of Europe, and definitely
in North America we have so much largesse
the balance of the world looks to
us with envious eyes. And we begin to use
our well-financed armies and technology
to secure a screen of false
ointment that really only protects our physical
structures. Within our minds and hearts, we harbor a
new fear that what we have become
accustomed to in our lifetime is now threatened
by unknown forces and the
faces behind these actions are not only disruptive,
but we do not
understand them. And so these threats
continue to leap from the pages of our newspapers
showing colored pictures
of devastation through bombs, bullets and the
deliberate cause of unwanted
human anguish. Surely we know building fences, which
segregate countries, ie Israel and
Palestine; and the securing of airways at
international airports simply
presents morsels of opportunity for those dedicated
to roles of violence. I believe too many individuals,
thinking they were suppressed from a
lifetime of opportunity have simply have
given up their dreams for societal
change. And I believe we should give some
of their children a chance at the
brass ring of life. Unfortunately,
many of their parents have little education and a lifetime
of sad memories.
And all that is left is the capture of an occasion, a
brief entrance on the
pages of an inky newspaper, moments of rapture such
as the Irish gunmen, Mid-East
suicide bombers and others who gave up on
mankind and discussed co-operative
gestures. In the name of Nationalism they seem to feel
these highly visible actions
are precious moments of fame as they try to change
the world. Sad to say
they do not fully appreciate how much they are really
destroying it. And,
too often, innocent civilians are caught up in misjudgments,
such as
Afghanistan, Bosnia and the September 11 tragedy in New York City. Faith
is the heartbeat of the world; Religion and Tradition sometimes a
chain not
only around our ankles, but may hinder positive relationships. Can
we survive without love for each other regardless of gender, age, color
or
background? No! We need Faith & Prayer Houses around the world as
participants
with a common mission come together in strength and go on to
present a vision
of fellowship in the world. Something must be done to
accomplish a sense of peace in our world.
I believe FAITH & PRAYER are
the key to this happening. My thoughts are
designed to place persons with oppositional
views in a test situation where
they show a willingness to forsake total personal
freedom on behalf of a
security conscious world. We
must look to other avenues than the rush to acquire new toys, electronic
surveillance
equipment, increased policing and other modes of questioning
of all who come
within their watchful eye. I am against giving up all
freedoms for a more secure world. It is simply a
shame we overreact to the
damage being done by a small band of Rebels
intent on promoting their brand
of justice. Yes, perhaps there will be a
small sense of security that something
is being done mostly for political
gain. This, in my estimation is not a cynical
view. Simply, it is an opinion on the silliness of the
modes of security used.
Some brilliant people, with misdirected intelligence,
look to the hundreds
of millions of dollars spent as a challenge to their egos.
And
unfortunately find ways to overcome these protective shields, in spite
of
the myriad of costly surveillance newly imposed on a frightened target
population. The
Model for security I suggest is based on dealing with the root issues.
I suggest
the building of, or revamping seven edifice locations throughout
the world,
with individual quarters situated around a common eating and
recreational area.
Each building should harbor one representative from
seven major cultures in
the world. I truly believe Faith is a knowing and understanding
of all things
possible. That a union of voices, humankind’s good will
and co-operation
are able to be part of the tune. And the recognition of tremendous
abilities
within the human race can be harnessed to achieve team goals. As
an example, this can take place in the setting up of Teaching Schools
situated
in strategic areas of low tolerance. Where it is known and fully
understood
that color and prejudice presents a problem. This may be in
Northern Canada,
Mexico, United States, Soviet Union, Mainland Europe,
England or Africa. Participants
can be selected by a body within the United Nations as a model
for understanding,
with curriculum developed to highlight individual
strengths, so they may teach
tolerance for each other one day. I believe
forty-nine persons selected be
a mixture of men and women not yet in
possession of a high school education,
but possess untested capabilities. They should be persons
who hunger for a chance to get ahead and prove
themselves worthwhile citizens
in this community of nations. Prayer is the second foundation
stone, which I believe most important in
the development of our ability to
protect ourselves without sacrificing all
of our freedoms. After all, isn’t
it true each army usually prays to their
God, usually before a most difficult
challenge? This is a most sensitive time when unwanted
thoughts are usually erased in
pursuit of a personal bonding with their Creator. As
these selected young people reside in their Faith & Prayer sites they
can
become role models for understanding each other. I perceive this
situation
is where they give up all their freedoms, since they are now in
isolation from
the familiar family and territory in which they were raised. And
hopefully through association, they may soak up the importance within
the lives
and culture of each individual who now count as friends. Accentuating
a developed friendship over a seven-week period, plans may be
formulated to
organize the next group of persons. All who complete this
mission can perhaps
be offered full scholarships for further learning. Some
may contest my ideas as simplistic, and unworkable. How do they know?
I am
a believer in the human soul and its ability to overcome, if the right
reason
came along. All the high technology in the world cannot overcome the
human
spirit. The Americans did not subdue the Vietnamese people
in their struggle, nor
the Russians break the spirit of resistance in the Afghan
people. Imagine if we could somehow bring together seven
peoples from seven
distinct backgrounds, and have them learn from each other?
Customs,
language, dress, artifacts and other significant cultural items could
be a
part of their Kiosk built within these seven locations. I
do envision these buildings with a central area providing kitchen and
dining,
entertainment and general meeting areas, including seven additions
for each
participant. All the d?cor will be designed in their cultures and
provide a
showcase for others to witness and enjoy. There should
also be interpreters available to assist and live in each
Faith & Prayer
House. And also act as a ‘Mom and Dad’ couple overseeing the
participants
in the program who should be between eighteen and twenty-five
years of age.
We must begin a program with the ideals of the young. I
know this world has many gifted, and humanistic persons willing to be
part
of something as positive and far reaching as this program. And I am
sure they
would be delighted to live in and supervise the seven persons. As
to cost: Each country should have benefactors willing to underwrite all
or
share in the constructions costs, and provision of food. International
companies
should be pleased to assist with educational gifts on behalf of
those successful
in completing the full program. It would not be fair
to restrict the movements and future employment of
these graduating candidates,
but hopefully they will either remain with the
program in some fashion, or
return to their country of origin. And they may
have a good influence on its
future. Remember this is a long-term program
and worth the investment and organizing
required. A year of planning, one
to build and recruit should be the time period
before beginning programs
the third year. And each
candidate should provide a weekly report of their impressions to a
Board of
Directors for each of the seven regions. The tiniest ripple in a
body of water
does have significance. Yes, we do have a choice between
security and freedom. However I believe
too much security requires an abdication
of our rights, and yet too much
freedom allows some to run amuck within the
definition of their own
identity. They must not be allowed to hijack our future.
And we also must
not allow too restrictive policing harness our own personal
growth. Ideas expressed here, begun on a small scale,
can be carefully monitored to
see if this program is worthy of developing into
a more meaningful
adventure. As humans we can conquer the moon. What about
the earth? And wouldn’t it be nice, if we
did?
| 
