Malu 'Aina

Statement on the Orlando Killings

No More Violence! No More War!

I grieve with the families of innocent victims in Orlando Florida. The horrific violence carried out Sunday June 12, 2016 against members of the LGBTQ community at the Pulse club by Omar Mateen is difficult to comprehend.  How could anyone do such evil?  Certainly the availability of military style assault weapons in the U.S. contributes to such massive casualties –49 dead and 53 injured. But it doesn’t explain the source of such hate and violence.  More is becoming known each day.  Several news sources now quote statements made by the shooter, Omar Mateen, on Facebook in the early morning hours of the shooting. “You kill innocent women and children by doing US airstrikes..now taste the Islamic state vengeance.” http://abcnews.go.com/US/orlando-shooter-facebook-now-taste-isis-vengeance/story?id=39875518

In short, innocent lives killed for killing innocent lives. An eye for an eye. A cycle of violence. Vengeance for vengeance. Killing and more killing without end. Solving the escalating killing of innocents will require more than banning military style assault weapons, though that is a start. What about the innocent lives killed on the other end of official U.S. military assault weapons – weapons of war? Are innocent women and children killed abroad by U.S. airstrikes, drones, special ops, etc. of less value than innocent people killed at home in Orlando? There are reports that 4 million Muslims have been killed in U.S./NATO wars. 4 MILLION! http://www.globalresearch.ca/four-million-muslims-killed-in-us-nato-wars-should-we-call-it-genocide/5470424 Even if that number would be cut in half that still involves an awful lot of people killed, and without doubt, many completely innocent men, women, and children.

     Isn’t it time to stop the killing both at home and abroad, and build a world with liberty, justice, and peace for all?  In truth, we are one human family.  Let’s show by example that more violence, more weapons, more war, more hate, is not the answer.  Love is the answer.  Love conquers hate.  Let’s live aloha!.
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Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org

June 15, 2016

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