The True Madness:
A Set of Acrostics Addressing Extremist Attitudes
Full Moon
Freedom is one of those words that people like to bandy about
Until they are confronted with thoughts different from their own
Love between two people of the same sex, for instance, or
Liberal political agendas
Madness sets in when those who close their minds to
Opinions other than their own
Opt to try and destroy the one they've deemed their enemy
Negotiation is the furthest thing from their mind
Moon Madness
Madness prevails in today's troubled world
Obstinate fixation on a set of twisted values
Oppressive values that leave no room for variation
Not values designed to protect people from harm
Moral depravity is decried
Atheism is said to be the worst of immoralities
Deism speaks to me more than atheism
Nonetheless, I believe in freedom to believe or not
Extremists would take away the freedoms of others
Satan may be something whose existence could be argued
Sadism, however, certainly exists
Creativity
Certain factions would like to limit creativity
Reactionaries want to ban certain literary works
Evil has its roots in ignorance
Absolutist ideas never served any population
Terrorism exists on many levels
Ignorance and intolerance are twins
Vain hopes of controlling even the very thoughts of others
Ignite a passion for power in the souls of those with small minds
Terrorism is not only guns and bombs, it is also
Young people whose minds have been filled up with hate for others
Water
Wish upon a star
Ask the heavens to bring peace; however
Take it upon yourself
Ending hate must be your primary priority
Reactionary agendas never served any population
Nostalgic
Nostalgic wishes for bygone eras
Only soothe those who fail to realize
Some things look better when they are behind us
Tragedy has existed throughout history
All times have had certain aspects needing improvement
Love has always been the answer
Greed has always been the deceiver
Ignorance has always been the match
Catching the tinder of hateful ideas afire
Impulsive
If you think it might be empowering
Meeting with terrorist organizations
Plotting to destroy those who do not follow your agenda
Undoing anything that does not suit your narrow view
Laying waste to those that you would subjugate
Strewing dead bodies wherever you set foot
Incinerating the homes of those you call enemy
Vandalizing, terrorizing
Evil is the only word that can describe what you are
Dynamic
Death comes to every being
Yet why be in such a hurry to dispatch another living soul?
Nothing gives you that right
Atrocities are being committed every day
Murderous individuals
Ignorant ideals
Cruelty reigns supreme
Bold
Be the change you want to see
Only sow kindness
Let others be who they are
Dream of and create better days
~Wanda Psycho~
Wanda's note:
I am not trying to target any religion as bad or wrong. I am targeting extremist attitudes.
In my time in this world, I have met kind people who are Christian in the truest sense; they want to behave in the pacifist and loving manner modeled by Christ. I have also met people calling themselves Christian who are anything but; their souls are rotten with intolerance and hate.
I have also met kind and tolerant Muslims. Following the 9-11 attacks, I listened to a talk by a man who stated that the Greater Jihad is the war fought against one's own lower impulses; the lesser Jihad is acts of war within the world. Such acts of war, he stated, were to be in defense of one's homeland; not attacks against other nations.
The actions of ISIS are horrific, and I was certainly dismayed to learn that people from the U.S. have seen fit to join in aiding this terrorist organization. I feel that these misguided souls are seeking some sort of glory in a world where it is difficult to feel that one's actions have any meaning. However, I most assuredly do not feel that the members of ISIS represent the beliefs of the majority of Muslims. I would say, in fact, that the opposite is true.
I have come to identify as a Buddhist; however, I by no means claim to be an expert or adept of any kind. I haven't yet been able to achieve full vegetarianism, for instance. However, I have become more conscious when I do eat meat about choosing meat fro a source where the animals are treated humanely.
Nobody is perfect; however, if we all try, even a little to take more right action, the world can become a better place.
