|
|
Dear Friend,
Changes abound as we make our way through the Season for Nonviolence and the current world conditions. Healing and peace is at hand.
One personal change is my new and improved website, to which I transitioned in order to have YOU become a member and interact with myself and other Peacemakers.
Click HERE to view the site. Click on the green button on the homepage and become a member , post a comment, rate my products and musings, and most importantly join me in creating a peaceful world. Yes we can!
OTHER LINKS:
CBS' Early Morning Show link HERE.
IONS Global Shift Special Event in June, click HERE.
~ Azim N. Khamisa |
| Azim's Monthly Musings |
|
"The Season for Nonviolence" and the Request of a Sweet 8th Grader Named Miranda Norlin
It has been a very busy, very wonderful couple of months. Those of you who follow the "Season for Nonviolence"(www.agnt.org/snv02.htm) know that the two bookends of this important season are Gandhi's assassination - January 31 - and Martin Luther King's assassination -April 4. These 64 days are celebrated worldwide by a variety of venues that include churches, community gatherings, schools, conferences and even businesses. I am invited to speak during this season, so the past two months have been extremely busy - working 7-day weeks teaching the principles of nonviolence, peacemaking and forgiveness.
As I write this on April 1, I just returned from Bell Middle School where TKF spoke to over 1,300 kids. The message never fails, and young and old alike are all moved and inspired by the TKF story and the work we do in memory of my son Tariq. One such venue was the Department of Peace Conference (www.ThePeaceAlliance.org) in Washington, DC where I gave the keynote address on March 21, a day which happens to be the Muslim New Year and also the first day of Spring. I celebrated my New Year day teaching people of all ages about how we can achieve peace through the practice of forgiveness. What a significant blessing to spend the New Year sowing the seeds of peace.
__________________________________
The season should not conclude... until we have abolished violence from our culture and...
the world is at peace.
__________________________________
I shared the story about forgiving Tony, the youth who, at 14, took Tariq's life in 1995. I spoke of meeting Tony five years after the tragedy, offering forgiveness and an opportunity to work with The Tariq Khamisa Foundation (www.TKF.org) when he is finally released. I shared with them that my offer of a job to Tony helped to transform his thinking, as prior to our meeting he used to speak of never getting out of prison but rather dying there. Having created the space for him to redeem himself - which was 9 years ago - Tony has totally shifted his focus and is a different person.
The footage of Tony at 14 clearly shows a gang member mentality. Today, at 28, he comes across like a monk. You think: my God, what happened here? It was forgiveness plus the opportunity for redemption. Tony will never re-offend. After our meeting, he started to study and work hard. He has passed his GED (self taught) at the 60 percentile, reads five books every month and is now completing college courses. He used to hate to read and now has also become an articulate writer and participates in TKF's programs via letters and videos. In fact, I shared with theDepartment of Peace audience that I am working hard to get Tony out of prison early so he can join us in the cause to stop the cycle of violence. I know in my heart of hearts we have saved him but more importantly I believe he will save thousands and thousands of other kids with his testimony. When Tony tells audiences of children and adults that he joined a gang at the age of 11, murdered my son at the age of 14, and has spent the last umpteen years in prison, he will demonstrate that it was just NOT WORTH IT! Kids will get this as his voice will have the quality of intonation of a person who pulled the trigger and the one who has a strong desire to turn the clock back! Of course I wish that were possible.
Miranda, Azim and Mira
Department of Peace Conference
While it is important to celebrate the Season for Nonviolence during the 64 days and support the work of the Department of Peace, I truly believe that this season for nonviolence should never have an end. The season should not conclude until we have abolished violence from our culture and the world is at peace. One great hope I have is meeting young people like Miranda who was inspired and took the initiative of becoming a proactive leader. She is part of the solution in defining a new peaceful future for America and the rest of the world. This has given me much hope that our future is secure and in good hands. Thank you Miranda for being such an exemplary role model.
God bless you all, and please join us to create a peaceful world that works for everyone.
Many Blessings,
Azim N. Khamisa
|
An Open Letter to the CA Governor from Miranda
|
|
8th Grader Idea to Free Tony to do Good Works
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
In January 1995, Tony Hicks, a man currently in the California jail system, shot and killed Tariq Khamisa on the command of an 18-year-old gang member. Tariq was 20 years old; Tony was 14. Tariq's father, Azim Khamisa, forgave Tony, the boy who murdered his son. He founded the Tariq Khamisa Foundation with Tony's grandfather Ples Felix. The purpose of the Foundation is to "stop kids from killing kids." Tony is in contact with Azim, who is now like a father to him. He has passed his GED and is taking college courses by correspondence. Azim can do a lot to prevent violence, but if Tony was there also, telling young gang members that it wasn't worth it, pulling that trigger, think what might be accomplished. We think Tony should have a chance to do this before he is eligible for parole at 46. That is why you are receiving this letter. We the undersigned ask you to do all in your power to shorten Tony's term for the greatest good of youth in this country.
~ Miranda Norlin
|
|
BOOK - REGULARLY $25 - ONLY $16 THROUGH APRIL
|
|
Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit Sale This Month
Azim Khamisa's third book "The Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit; How to Bounce Back from Life's Hardest Hits" - published by Random House and coauthored with Jillian Quinn -hit the top spot on Amazon's Hot Releases last month, placing number three on the Spiritual listings. Here is a self-help book with practical instruction on how to develop the inner strength to respond powerfully to all of life.
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY SALE
Retail $25
On Sale for $16 on Azim's Site HERE.
For all Items in Store, click HERE.
|
|
|
Newsletter
Comments
There are no comments.