When terror strikes
we mourn in gales of sorrow,
praise those forever lost.
When torrents subside,
let us sit down and talk.
How can we know the signs,
prevent seduction,
show more caring?
Storms of carnage call for compassion,
All arrogance must be tamed.
©2017 Ontheland
With ‘storm’ as this week’s dVerse Quadrille prompt, it was hard not to think of the recent tragic events in London. I found myself surfing the web to find information about education and support programs designed to prevent radicalization leading to violence. What I had heard on the radio seemed to be confirmed—there are few large scale initiatives…actions being taken seem to be low profile (or reported in languages other than English). Here are three links that I found interesting:
- Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence, a non-profit organization in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Let’s Talk About it—Working Together to Prevent Terrorism, a U.K. initiative
- “Can education prevent violent extremism”, an article about the Roundtable Debate on the Prevention of Violent Extremism through Education, United Nations, New York, June 2016
Ontheland 
I love this line, especially:
“Storms of carnage call for compassion”
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Love the last two lines! Nice write.
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Thank you 🙂
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I think this is the question all are asking… how can we come out of this storm a better world.
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Your words are so true, Janice. It’s hard to focus on solving a problem when all you see is its devastation. Your final lines hit the mark:
‘Storms of carnage call for compassion,
All arrogance must be tamed’.
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Thank you Kim. Very distressing times.
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‘We mourn in gales of sorrow’. Wow, Janice, you’ve caught the feelings exactly. Still reeling over here and now more details of the attack are coming out…tough times.
You’re right education and support programmes are one major way forward and yes, a few have existed here in the U.K. I’ve read a lot about Prevents work here in the U.K., some view it as controversial but the overall feeling is that it is having a positive effect within schools and young people groups. However as ever funding is being cut and the program was going to be massively curtailed – it would seem crazy if this goes ahead. This morning’s paper told of how one the attackers brother is part of a Prevent program in his neighbourhood- talk about being poles apart…
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There are certainly no guarantees with programs like Prevent but I imagine that benefits accumulate over time and with critique, programs can improve. It would be crazy as you say for them to cut funding. Condemnation seems so much easier than building strong communities.
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You have summed up the last few days so well, Janice. “…gales of sorrow,,,” indeed. Then, “All arrogance must be tamed…” Such a perfect ending.
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Thank you Sarah.
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Your poem says it strongly and beautifully Janice.
” prevent seduction,
show more caring?
Storms of carnage call for compassion,
All arrogance must be tamed.”
Yes, we need to form more help and talk centres. Caring and compassion is a strong weapon.
miriam
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Thanks Miriam … a strong weapon indeed so near yet often so far …
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I agree with your concluding lines. Violence of any kind is like a storm to those affected.
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We need to talk, find solutions, show compassion, yes! But it seems radical Islam is neither rational nor humane…false ideologies are dangerous (terrorists have been “educated” to kill, destroy, and take political control).
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The compassion I feel worth aspiring for is unconditional…we can extend it in our home communities where seeds of violence are present and nurtured by many deep rooted ideologies.
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You give food for thought…beautiful aspirations.
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Thank you Lynn…when faced with such violence we face enormous spiritual/philosophical challenges.
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Ah yes. The importance of learning to watch for the signs … be actively engaged…learn from the past and do after the past.
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Wisdom and compassion – hard to hold on to.
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Yes very much so especially in grief and shock.
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Yes, this addresses the tendency for apathy to return once the perceived ‘storm’ is over. We need to be more proactive and sow the seeds of love. I think the place to start is education and have more understanding and plans for all kind of minds.
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I do believe an attitude of taking care of people starting with our home communities and moving beyond borders will push us in the direction of less violence.
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I agree Janice.
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It was a really touchy poem felt very real
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Thank you 🙂
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You have raised a very important point Janice, Education is the solution to most of the Humanity problems we face today! and the recent happenings in London and Manchester are saddening.
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For sure — some people feel violence is inevitable but I think we can look at ourselves and consider how we can reduce this in our societies—- and what we do in our own communities spreads outwards. There is a wave of sadness across the world when events like these are publicized.
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Yes I agree with you, inaction and not doing anything to remove the problem is no less than a crime.
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Prevention is better than cure. You’re right, Janice. Thanks for the wisdom.
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It’s a good plan. Can arrogance be tamed?
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I imagine you are thinking about full blown arrogance…I think many of us could fall into arrogance traps (lose humility) but we can avoid it if we are aware and wary…
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Always stay humble and kind, as Tim McGraw sings. I think that is what you mean 🙂
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