Stories for Peace & 9/11

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=195 BGCOLOR="#663366" TEXT="#080000" background="044c6172dkcfuy.gif"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#CC99CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#663366" FACE="Arial" >Wisdom Tales</FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Times New Roman" >    </FONT> |    <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wisdom Tales"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Story of the month "><U>Story of the month </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TellMeAnuda "><U>TellMeAnuda </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Holiday Tips"><U>Holiday Tips</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bibliography"><U>Bibliography</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Previous Stories"><U>Previous Stories</U></A>   |   <B>Stories for Peace & 9/11</B>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles"><U>Articles</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Storytelling and Healing"><U>Storytelling and Healing</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="04af0030.gif" border=0 width="496" height="3" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Stories for Peace & 9/11</div> <div>  I would like to share some stories that help me to face the many complicated feelings that I carry in the wake of this tragedy, and ongoing response.  I have listed stories that I have been sharing with people of all ages. We need stories now more than ever: Stories that let our imaginations soar with possibility. We need stories of courage that remind us that small acts of kindness and sacrifice, are as vital as big ones. We need stories that  remind us that we are not powerless, and that together we can make a life worth living on earth. We need to be reminded through story of our connection to one another across the planet. We need stories that remind us that to make peace, we must all live peacefully. As someone wise once said, `The way to peace, is peace.'</div> <div>      I do not have stories here that cover all of those bases. Please check out my book <I>Doorways to the Soul</I> (Pilgrim Press l998). I have also listed some excellent resources for other websites where peace and healing stories can be found. Do let me know if there are other resources that should be added to this list. I will be updating this site regularly.</div> <bR> <div> The Sun and the Wind</div> <div> An Aesop's Fable</div> <bR> <div>     One day the sun and the wind began an argument over which one was the strongest. Seeing a man walking on the road down on earth, the wind had an idea. “Let us have a contest,” it suggested. “The one who can most easily get that man's cloak off will be the strongest.”  </div> <div>      “Fine,” said the Sun, “You go first.”</div> <div>      So the sun went behind a cloud and the wind began to blow down upon the man. It blew harder and harder until the man was bent nearly double. But the harder the wind blew, the more tightly the man pulled his cloak around himself.  The wind could not get it off.</div> <div>     And so the sun came out and the wind hid. The sun shone down upon the man, and he straightened up. It shone a bit more brightly and the man sighed and loosened his grip. It shone more brightly still, and the man loosened the clasp. The sun continued to radiate warmth down upon the man until he laughed. “I don't need this anymore.” He said. Removing the cloak, he flung it over one shoulder, and went upon his way. </div> <bR> <div> What can our nation take from a tale like this? </div> <div> What as individuals can we learn from this story about how we interact with one another? How can we best radiate the beauty and love within us for others? </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The Lost Ax - </div> <div>    One morning a farmer stepped outside of his door to begin his wood chopping. He reached for his ax on the hook where he always kept it, but it was not there. “Wife, did you take my ax?” He called. “No dear.” She answered.</div> <div>  “Why wasn't it there,” he wondered? “Did someone else take it?” </div> <div>    He looked over at his neighbors' yard. There was his neighbor. The farmer noted, that today the neighbor looked as if he has something to hide. “He is avoiding my eyes.” He thought. “He knows I am here, but he is not looking at me. Oh now he even turns his back”. He noted too that the man was moving about in a nervous, shifty manner. </div> <div>     The farmer went back into the house and told his wife. “That no good neighbor of ours has stolen my ax.”  “Maybe dear,” she cautioned, “but look around more before you accuse him.” </div> <div>      So the man walked around his yard, grumbling and turning often to watch the neighbor who clearly seemed to have something to hide. Then at the far edge of his property, by the tree that he had been cutting the day before, the farmer found his trusty ax, lying where he had left it when he had suddenly been called away.</div> <div>    The man looked over at his neighbor. He was still working in his yard, concentrating so hard on his task that he did not look up. The man was busy, he moved quickly and carefully. “What a good and hard worker my neighbor is,” Thought the man, lifting his ax to his shoulder.</div> <bR> <div>     Now as much as ever it is so important to avoid pre-judging others by appearances. This is a good one to tell to kids and teens who may be especially vulnerable to stereotyping. Our political leaders are making strong statements condemning acts of racial violence and revenge, but they are still happening all across our country. We are all subject to fear during this time and can benefit from retelling ourselves this story often. </div> <div>     The story can also apply to many other areas of our daily lives. How do we judge others? How do we decide whom to favor with respect and care and who to overlook? Notice on what basis you judge others as you go about your day? Let us practice suspension of judgment at this time and for the rest of time. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leave your Name on the Door - A tale from the Middle East </div> <bR> <div>      Once a philosopher, having made an appointment to dispute with Nasrudin, called at the appointed hour, and found him away from home. Nasrudin had forgotten their plan and was in the teahouse playing table games and telling stories with his friends.</div> <div>    After waiting from some time the philosopher grew angry. Picking up a piece of chalk, he wrote, “Stupid Oaf” on Nasrudin's door and left in a huff.</div> <div>    As soon as he got home and saw this, Nasrudin rushed to the philosopher's house.</div> <div>    “I had completely forgotten our appointment,” He said, “ I apologize for not having been home.  Of course I remembered the appointment as soon as I saw that you had left your name on my door.”</div> <bR> <div>    I would urge storytellers and others to tell stories from the Middle East at this time to help remind young and old listeners alike of the common bonds that we share. The Sufi tradition which grew out of the Muslim tradition is so full of beauty and wisdom. These stories really help us to live well and wisely. </div> <div>    We are being given an opportunity today to reevaluate as a nation, as a world and individually how we are seen. What name do we leave on the door if we take innocent lives in Afghanistan or other parts of the world? What name do we leave when we break treaties, and make decisions based on the welfare of our major corporations, rather than the welfare of all? Why don't we wish above all else to be seen as peacemakers, lovers of all, champions of the poor. </div> <div>     Are we acting peacefully in our daily lives? It does matter that we act peacefully with each step, and each human interaction. Everyone is sacred. We are all one. What messages do we as individuals give when we are short with the person behind the counter in the coffee shop, or the woman in line in front of us who realized that she forgot toilet paper at the last minute. </div> <div>     Look today for the names you leave on the door of each person's soul. How gentle, and caring, and respectful were you? Did you judge some to be more deserving than others? Did you give the best of yourself?</div> <bR> <div> A Story for Grieving </div> <bR> <div> The Cow-Tail Switch - A folktale from Liberia</div> <div> Collected by Harold Courlander and George Herzog </div> <bR> <div>     Once upon a time in a small village in West Africa, there lived a hunter with his wife and seven sons. One day the hunter went into the forest alone to hunt and did not return at nightfall. His family wondered why he did not come back. They talked about it for some days, but after a while when he didn't come back, they stopped talking about it. </div> <div>     Then one day his wife gave birth to another son. As he grew older he began to talk, and when he could talk, the first thing he said was, “Where is my father?” “Good question”, the others replied. “He should have come back a long time ago.” Another son said, “Something must have happened to him. We should go looking.” “But where will we find him?” Asked another son.</div> <div>    “I saw him go.”  One son said. “If you follow me, I can show you the trail he took.”</div> <div> And so the sons followed the trail. Finally, in a clearing, they found the bones and rusted weapons of their father. He had obviously been killed by some great beast. </div> <div>     Another son stepped forward. “I can put his bones together.” And he did.</div> <div> Another son said, “I know how to cover the skeleton with muscle and flesh.” And he did.</div> <div> Then another son said, “ I can put blood in his body.” Another said, “I can put breath into his body.” With this the hunter began to breath. Then another son said, “I can help him to move, and he did and the hunter got up and stretched his bones.” Then another son said, “I can give him the power of speech.” With this the hunter said, “Let us go home.”</div> <div>     They went home and the hunter's wife gave him a great feast inviting everyone in the village. In celebration of his return, the hunter made a switch from the tail of a cow and decorated it with cowery shells. Everyone wanted it. </div> <div>     After the feast, the hunter called for silence. “I would like to give this beautiful cow-tail switch, to the one who is most responsible for bringing me back to life.” Immediately there was an uproar as each brother had an opinion. </div> <div>     “It is surely me,” said the son who showed his brothers the path that helped them to find their father.</div> <div>      “But without me he wouldn't have come back to life”, said the one who laid out the bones. “Breath is more important than bones,” said another son. “What is life without movement?” Said another. On and on they went. Finally the hunter called for silence. “I will give this cow-tail switch to my youngest son.” He said. “For he was the one who remembered me. It is said, that a person is not truly dead, until he is forgotten.” </div> <div>     </div> <div> Find this story in Harold Courlander's book by the same name. (New York: Henry Holt & Co. l947.) </div> <bR> <div> Internet Resources</div> <div> “Stories for Children in Crisis: Nourishing the Heart.”</div> <div> Together with a coalition of international storytellers, Laura Simms, as part</div> <div> of the Gaindeh Project, has gathered traditional tales from around the world,</div> <div> stories that may provide an internal place of peace for children. The stories</div> <div> are being printed in a booklet to be handed out to each families that has been personally touched by the tragedy, volunteers and all schools in NYC and N.J., children as a gift. If you can donate money to help in the distribution please do. These stories are now also posted on the Healing Stories Alliance website. </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.healingstory.org/crisis/crisis.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.healingstory.org/crisis/crisi"><U><U>http://www.healingstory.org/crisis/crisis.html</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <div> This website also offers many other resources and ideas on therapeutic applications of storytelling. </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.laurasimms.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.laurasimms.com/"><U><U>http://www.laurasimms.com/</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > - Link to Laura's new site.  Look for essays and stories.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Storyteller Heather Forest has added a number of stories to her website that offer ways of thinking about how to be in this world to foster peace and heal from the tragedy.</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.storyarts.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.storyarts.org"><U><U>www.storyarts.org</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> At <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.peaceculture.net/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.peaceculture.net/"><U><U>http://www.peaceculture.net/</U></U></A></FONT> they can find a number of stories</div> <div> that can help. The stories are from the book "The Strange War" by</div> <div> Martin Auer, published by Beltz & Gelberg in Germany. Author and</div> <div> publishers have agreed to provide these texts on the Internet and to</div> <div> permit downloading free of charge.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/"><U><U>www.aaronshep.com/stories/</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  Aaron Shepherd has a wonderful site rich with stories and recently added stories from the Middle East to help with the tragedy. </FONT></div> <div>    </div> </td> </tr></table></body>