Rev. Danny Fisher

In the last 24 hours, someone left a comment of a highly offensive nature at this blog. I say “someone,” because this comment was left anonymously. I don’t know who wrote it.

This comment contained (among other things) slander and blatant bigotry and intolerance.

In the disclaimer for this blog (which you can read just to the right), I note that I may remove comments at my discretion, and I have chosen to remove this one. I do this for two reasons: (1) I don’t think libelous material has a place in the comments, and (2) I expect commenters with strong opinions to sign their names to what they have to say. I allow people without Blogger accounts to post comments because I want all readers to be able to give feedback; but I do not intend this privilege to be used for people to say offensive things while hiding behind anonymity in a cowardly manner.

Hatefulness has no place at this blog or in Buddhism. And if you do have something to say, put your name on it. That’s how grown-ups in polite society behave.

A member of my extended family took his own life last week. While I don’t presume to know what someone who is suicidal is feeling or experiencing, I suspect that a caring presence might be of some help. If you’re feeling suicidal, please reach out to the people around you–friends, family, sangha. Even if you think they won’t listen or aren’t capable of really hearing you, give them a try–they might surprise you. And if you can’t find someone to talk to in person, there are compassionate listeners available around-the-clock by phone: call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). It’s a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

If you’re feeling desperate, alone, or hopeless, please know that there are people who are willing to listen to you.

And, as our friend Mumon reminds us in the comments of this post, if you’re one of those who survives another’s suicide, please know that you did all you could do.

Our friend and past interviewee James Ishmael Ford has yet another must-read sermon at his Monkey Mind blog. It’s ostensibly a contemplation of sorts about “the large number of scandals related to Zen teachers,” but it turns out to be something more than just that. Take a look.

Reuters is reporting that “suspected separatists beheaded a rubber tapper and shot dead a school janitor, both Buddhists, in the latest violence in Thailand’s Muslim south.” The report continues:

The attacks took place in Yala and Pattani, two of the three Malay Muslim provinces where 29 people have been killed and more than 50 injured in the past 10 days, among them soldiers, teachers and Buddhist monks.

[...]

Attacks on Buddhists have increased since a shooting last week at a Narathiwat mosque, where unknown gunmen killed 10 Muslims at prayer and wounded 12 more.

Residents blamed security forces for the bloody attack, which the military said was the work of shadowy rebels seeking to cause sectarian rifts.

A labourer from northeastern Thailand was shot dead two days later and a note left at the scene said: “You kill our innocents, so we kill your people.”

A Buddhist monk was killed and another critically injured on Friday when they were gunned down as they collected alms in Yala.

A report by Washington-based Nonviolence International released on Monday said the government’s decision to arm Buddhist civilians and deregulate gun sales was deepening rifts between Muslims and the region’s Buddhist minority.

The study said the policy had “heightened resentment among the Malay Muslim population towards the Thai state and raised the feeling of injustice and discrimination”.

Reuters also reports that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said his government will use “development aid rather than aggressive security measures” to address the insurgency.

Nearly 3,500 people in the region have been killed in violence since 2004.