Peace Be With You By David Carlson

Peace Be With You: Monastic Wisdom For A Terror- Filled World By David Carlson, is a timely book written in the post 9-11 world.  According to the author, David Carlson, The collective American grief over 9/11 "could have become a bridge of understanding and empathy to others in the world who have known (and continue to experience) horrendous suffering.  But that has not happened.  I had yet to hear anyone ask, 'Was 9/11 something like what the Japanese experienced in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?'  Instead, 9/11 only seemed to isolate us further from the world.  To most Americans, the tragedy of 9/11 was experienced as a bubble of suffering so unique that only we could possibly feel the severity of the pain.  Our grief seemed to become our private possession." Page 45  Perhaps many of the victims and families of victims might find Carlson's position harsh and perhaps simplistic. On the otherhand, Carlson may appear to be a political liberal or pacifist.  After all, the events of 9/11 initiated a regenerated form of national pride and patriotism- and the focus on America is partly the definition of patriotism- which has distinguished our nation from all others. 

Most people do not have the luxury, the time or means to visit monestaries- and the seclusion and wisdom that can best be appreciated within the confines of a monestary.  Of course, some good points are made as well as biblical wisdom, yet peace at all costs is not a just peace.  And peace without justice is in fact meaningless.  Nevertheless, the extensive work that the author put into this book, reveals a unique and often untold perspective of those silent voices in response to 9/11.  For those readers interested in 9/11 studies, histories and writings, this book offers a good compliment to the various 9/11 works already written.

As a blogger for booksneeze, I recieved this book from Thomas Nelson publishers for the purpose of writing this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.