Weapons of love against terror

The Holy Week celebration just passed, and for my part, I was engrossed in watching the Discovery and History channel and watching programs about religion and commemoration of the special Holy days. I also watched Pope Francis as he celebrated the Holy Week in the Vatican and spoke to the thousands of faithful present and the millions more watching at home. It was very inspiring to see so many sharing in days of faithfulness and prayer, but at the same time, it was obvious the mood was a bit somber too.

After all, terror once again spread throughout the world in the wake of the latest bomb attacks all happening in the span of just a few days. On March 22, Brussels was the victim of bomb attacks that struck their airport and railway system killing 35 people and injuring at least 300. It was another tragedy in a series of horrific terror bombings that left the world speechless. The attacks were claimed by the Islamic State militant group (IS) and are another attack on their growing violent and bloody list of terror activities aimed at spreading fear and hate throughout the world.

It was a very sad way to begin the Holy Week celebration. People from all religions around the world commiserated with those who were injured and lost loved ones in Brussels, and not just in Brussels of course but all over the world where terrorists have attacked. I know that not every attack gets the same amount of headline space in the media, but that doesn’t mean one matters more or less than the other. The world needs to be united as one in mourning the loss of life around the globe.

Brussels was the second large-scale attack on an EU capital claimed by IS after the Paris attack last November.  It just seems to be getting worse and terrorists are preying on everyone’s fear and distrust. It makes them stronger. After what happened in Brussels on Tuesday, the world already entered the Holy Week weekend in a rather somber mood. Then Friday, another bomb attack took place at a football stadium near Baghdad killing 41 with over 105 injured. Videos online show that the bomb went off just as the officials were handing out trophies to the players.

Photos of footballs smeared in blood and images of those hurt and killed in the bombing and the stampede that happened afterwards showed up all over social media and the world once again prayed – this time for Iraq and for the horrors the men, women, and children experienced there. And if that weren’t enough for one week, last Easter, another bomb went off in Lahore targeting Christians celebrating the holiday and killing 71 people and injuring so many more.

To say it has been a tragic week is an understatement. So many lives lost and so many people hurt, scared, and wary. This has become the state of the world we live in and rightfully so. Here in the Philippines, while we have – so far – thankfully been spared from a bombing attack, we aren’t spared from the fear. Last Monday, whether or not it was unrelated to what has been transpiring around the world, a bomb threat was sent to Ateneo de Manila University. Students and staff had to be evacuated. Thankfully no bomb went off and no one was harmed. However, the fact that this type of terror and fear is not far from our doorsteps is something we should always be aware of. It’s ignorant to assume that any place is safe these days.

But as the terror around the world increases, what are we supposed to do? It’s understandable to be scared, it would be crazy not to be, but how are we supposed to respond? I understand that some people would immediately want to aggressively seek revenge on those who have killed all these innocent people without a second thought. However, we also have to stop and think of what this will accomplish? They hit us, we hit them, and they hit us again… Will it just perpetuate a cycle of violence that will never end? I believe that it would.

Whenever hate and fear and anger are cultivated I believe that the terrorists win. This is what they want after all. They want a world divided, fighting against one another, tearing each other apart. What they don’t want is for the world to stand united. In the end, I think that’s what we need to do. I understand that it’s easier to look at one another and the killers behind these attacks through lenses of hate, but it would only serve to strengthen their cause.

I was moved by the Pope’s message over the Easter holiday. He tempered his Easter sermon denouncing “blind terrorism,” recalling the attacks in Europe, Africa, and all over the world as well as expressing his sadness and dismay as the refugee crisis worsens with people trying to escape their war-torn countries. He urged everyone to use “weapons of love” against these brutal attacks. And while some realists might say that love won’t stop bombs from going off, I think the Pope’s message is a good one. He didn’t say we need to lighten up on security or on being aware and being careful, but we can’t let these attacks take away our love for one another and our desire to help each other.

In the end I don’t feel this is religious war. Sure, it’s a factor, but it’s not only Christians and Catholics who are getting hurt. Muslims are suffering and dying as well. The actions of an extreme few should not be attributed to everyone. I think it’s important for everyone to unite to fight this war. That’s the only way we’ll survive. We can’t let terror divide us or the terrorists will get exactly what they want.