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Partners for Unity in Diversity ... Remembering September 11th
by Shirley-Anne Bedard
At the last Annual Meeting of the Ontario Multifaith Council the theme speaker challenged the faith groups to respond to the events of September 11th by proclaiming a message of hope and compassion. The North Bay Multifaith Regional committee made such a response and it is reported by one of their representatives.
As a Zen Buddhist I have always relished the Buddha's teaching that we are all interconnected and interdependent on one another. It was this very teaching that drew me to Buddhism in the first place. However, when the horrible attacks occurred on September 11, 2002, I certainly did not want to acknowledge that I was in any way interconnected with people who could commit such a horrible act. It is often easier to extend our compassion and loving kindness to beings whom we feel are deserving of it, but how is it humanly possible to extend such compassion and understanding to people who are capable of such acts of violence. This was one of the questions gnawing at my heart when I attended out next meeting of the North Bay Regional Multifaith Committee.
Upon entering the hall I was greeted with the usual smiles and hugs of my relatively new found friends and we gathered around the table. As I looked around the board table that day, I saw the same questioning looks from my fellow members and someone finally said... "What can we do?" Was there anything we really could do to help our community? We all expressed our gratitude to be living in a community where spiritual diversity is not only tolerated but also, celebrated.
That was the birth of the idea to have an evening celebration called "Partners for Unity in Diversity... remembering September 11". There we sat, Baha'i, Buddhist, Sikh, Moslem, Jew, Christian, First Nation, and Unitarian, brainstorming on how we could share our gratitude for the freedom to express our faith in our community and also remember the victims of the attacks. In the weeks that followed, members of the North Bay Police Service, the North Bay Fire Department, and representatives from City Hall, Nipissing University, and Canadore College joined us.
When something as devastating as the attacks on the World Trade Center happens, there is an overwhelming feeling of helplessness that naturally occurs in a person. Planning this evening of prayer and remembrance gave our group a sense of purpose and renewed hope. From booking the speakers, to making posters and brochures, everyone was unified in their efforts. It is not surprising that everything fell into place on that evening of November 21, 2001 and all who attended shared a wonderful expression of faith. The evening began with a Piper leading a processional of guest speakers and faith representatives into the hall. The Fire Chief of North Bay lit a large candle in the center of a display made especially for this evening. The large candle was encircled by smaller candles, which would be lit in turn by the faith representatives. The larger center candle representing the common thread that ties all faiths together, compassion and truth. Each of the smaller candles branched off of the larger one, like the separate spokes of one wheel. There were heartwarming speeches given by our own RMC Chairperson, the Mayor, the Fire Chief, the Police Chief, the President of Canadore College, the Captain of the Salvation Army, and the Vice-President of Nipissing University. A heavenly voice provided a sense of peace and wonder as the evening moved into the reading of the Golden Rule by the Faith representatives. As the words of the song "Let there be peace", penetrated the silence, there was a feeling of peace and tranquility in the room that was unmistakable.
As our Islamic representative Mohamed A. Khowessah lit the last candle...The evening continued with each Faith Representative reading their Golden Rule and in turn lighting a candle in the altar-like display. The Golden Rule was also displayed on a larger screen behind the stage so that the audience could read along and witness the commonalities of all the religions. As our Islamic representative lit the last candle, the lights were lowered and the visual impact of the candle flames was magnified by a wondrous voice singing "Amazing Grace". Slowly and almost noiselessly guest speakers and faith representatives filed out of the auditorium.
Of course the silence did not last long out in the hall where newspaper reporters and photographers wanted stories and pictures for the local newspaper. Television cameras and radio crews wrapped up their interview materials and extension cords. There was a sense of joy in our unified achievement as we said our goodnights to one another.
In the Buddhist tradition the word for faith in Pali is saddha. Literally translated saddha means "to place your heart upon". I believe that the "Partners for Unity in Diversity... remembering September 11" evening allowed us as a group to place our hearts upon our common belief that all faiths deserve to be respected and supported. After all, Faith distances us from hatred and violence and moves us all toward compassion and love.
May Peace Prevail On Earth!
Shirley-Anne Bedard is the Zen Buddhist Representative on the North Bay Regional Multifaith Committee
Posted by editor on September 30, 2003 10:33 AM