Every time I listen to or read the news, there is an article on violence or hatred. I find it difficult to hate someone that I do not know; I would say that even if I know someone and that someone is obnoxious, I do not know if I would hate that someone...I probably would not be his/her friend, but I would not plan to put a bomb in his/her house.

In the past few years, the world has seen various terrorists attacks in Europe, in the United States, and elsewhere. To me a terrorist attack is an attack of hatred on someone that the attacker does not know. He or she does not know that person or those persons, and he/she decides that they must be killed for some stupid reason; for example, religion or politics. For me, those reasons are very stupid... I do not see the purpose.

I have tried to hate someone for political or religious reasons, but I find it very stupid... it makes no sense. I do not appreciate many of the politicians in Puerto Rico or in the United States, but I can not gather enough strength or reason to hate them to the point of killing them... I simply turn my back on them. (I will be honest, I do not know what my attitude would be if I lived in Venezuela.)

Recently in the UK and just this week in Barcelona, Spain, the world has seen terrorists attacks. I am sure we will have more of these attacks in Europe, in the U.S.A. and elsewhere. WHY? Some claim in the name of God. Violence in the name of a God that you can not see or hear? It sounds stupid and sick. To me it is just pure ignorance.

Lord Buddha is attributed with having said the following; ""He was angry with me, he attacked me, he defeated me, he robbed me" -- those who do not dwell on such thoughts will surely become free from hatred. For hatred can never put an end to hatred; love alone can. This is an unalterable law. People forget that their lives will end soon. For those who remember, quarrels come to an end" (The Dhammapada, verses 4 - 6).

It is hard to live by this principle, but I find it harder to live by the law of hatred for personal, religious or political reasons. I pray and hope that this constant hatred and violence that has taken hold of our world will soon come to an end.

Hermano Luis

I have always lived through historical periods of political violence. In my youth it was Irish. Now it is Islamic. (These are common denominators). I, and hopefully we, have always had a degree of caution as we went about our daily lives. These things were happening long before I was born and will probably go on long after I am gone. It is the way of things this side of the pond. The only difference currently is the media response. Ignore it is my advice. Just carry on as normal but maintain situational awareness.