Een Andere Joodse Stem/ Another Jewish Voice is shocked and saddened by the horrible events in Brussels. We send our condolences to the victims’ families and hope for a quick recovery for the wounded.
We are angry and sad to see that there are people who wish to spread hate and violence by targeting innocent civilians. Our answer to hate and violence is not to react with more hate and violence; we are afraid, however, that some political forces in Belgium and across Europe will try to lead people in this direction. Militarization of our public spaces, of our borders and our foreign policy will not bring more safety, either in the short or long term; an international policy of peace, redistribution of wealth and mutual respect combined with concrete actions against the funding sources and political support for criminal organizations is the only way forward.
Especially in these difficult days, EAJS/AJV sees that there is an urgent need to increase the understanding and cooperation between people of all origins and faiths in order to create a solid ground for a safe and inclusive society for everyone.
At this moment we wish to recall the words of Martin Luther King:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate;
only love can do that.
Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction…
The chain reaction of evil – hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars – must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
Een Andere Joodse Stem / Another Jewish Voice
Belgium, 1 April 2016