When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall – Think of it, ALWAYS. — Mahatma Gandhi
I thought of this quote last night, while chasing down the King quote I used yesterday. Turns out there was a flitter of “that is a totally made up quote” going around, apparently springing from, of all things, an article in the online Atlantic Magazine. Really? I expected a little better. Most of the responses to the article were along the lines of “even if it’s fake, the thought and meaning is still valid”. I remembered having used that quote long ago (turns out in Dec. 2001) and I normally do at least look for other attributions for quotes, so off I went looking for it. Of course the internet is FULL of quotes because people like myself use them all the time to start off a post or drive home an idea. But finding something linking it to the actual writer or speaker is harder. But not impossible LOL. Another person and I actually landed on the same good source about the same time, so hopefully that’s enough of that.
I watched a TED talk short piece today which had Phyllis Rodriguez, mother of a sept 11 victim standing alongside Aicha el-Wafi, the mother of Zacarias Moussaoui. This is probably a better representation of what the two of them had to say.
I remember after the Oklahoma bombing wondering if all of us have the capacity to evoke such violence on the world. What brings people to the point where they are compelled to create such chaos and violence towards others in order to make a point? And what is that point, exactly?
My brain is too mushy at the moment with all this to have helpful thoughts. I encourage all of you to do your own thinking.
So it is apparently the case that the “viral” version was originally posted as: